Airlines

Air India and Air India Express will fly special Haj flights, transporting approximately 19,000 pilgrims

Air India and Air India Express will fly special Haj flights from Jaipur, Chennai, Kozhikode, and Kannur, transporting approximately 19,000 pilgrims. The two carriers will fly about 19,000 pilgrims from the four cities to Jeddah and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

The first Air India flight of Haj operations, flight number AI5451, departed from the Jaipur International Airport at 11:05 and arrived in Medina at 13:50 (all times local). Air India will run 46 flights between Jaipur and Chennai and Medina and Jeddah during the first phase of the operations from May 21 to June 21, 2023. In the second phase, Air India would operate 43 flights from July 3 to August 2, 2023, transporting pilgrims from Jeddah and Medina to Jaipur and Chennai.

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The number of pilgrims scheduled to fly with Air India from Jaipur is 5871 on 27 flights while 4447 pilgrims will be flown by it from Chennai on 19 flights. Overall, a total of 10318 passengers will be flown by Air India to Saudi Arabia with its Boeing 787 and Airbus 321neo aircraft.

On the other hand, Air India Express would use its B737-800 fleet to fly between Kozhikode and Kannur from June 4 to June 22, 2023. During the initial phase, it will run 13 flights between Kannur and Jeddah carrying 1873 people and 44 flights carrying 6363 passengers from Kozhikode to Jeddah. Air India Express would operate 57 flights during the initial phase, carrying a total of 8236 people. Air India Express would fly the pilgrims from Medina back to Kozhikode and Kannur during the second phase, which runs from July 13 to August 2, 2023.

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“On the return ferry flights to India, Air India and Air India Express will bring Zamzam water.” On arrival, this will be stored at one of their four Indian destinations. “The holy water will be handed over to the pilgrims after they return to their home destinations,” according to the press release.

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Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.