Airlines

Air India deepens connect to US and UK with 20 additional flights per week

In a significant move to increase its global presence, Air India, The top airline in India today announced the addition of 20 weekly flights to Birmingham, London, and San Francisco.

How one announcement made by Air India captures global interest & The significance for aviation.

In a significant move to increase its global presence, Air India, The top airline in India today announced the addition of 20 weekly flights to Birmingham, London, and San Francisco. This is a part of the airline’s ongoing effort to take back the top spot on the global aviation scene. Between October and December of this year, a phased introduction of the extra flights to these three international locations will take place.

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Air India to operate World’s longest non-stop flight ..!(Opens in a new browser tab)

Air India will be able to offer over 5,000 extra seats per week to customers and ensure plenty of choice in terms of connectivity, convenience, and cabin space with the addition of 5 additional flights per week to Birmingham, 9 additional flights to London, and 6 additional flights per week to San Francisco.

The existing weekly schedule for Air India will increase from 34 to 48 flights to the UK. Five additional flights per week, three from Delhi and two more from Amritsar will be available to Birmingham. London will get nine new weekly flights, five of which will come from Mumbai, three from Delhi, and one from Ahmedabad. Air India will now offer nonstop service from seven different Indian cities to the UK’s capital.

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Air India intends to increase the fleet size by an additional 30 aircraft.(Opens in a new browser tab)

Flights from India to the United States will increase from 34 to 40 per week. Air India will now connect Mumbai with San Francisco with a thrice-weekly service, and reinstate a three-times-weekly Bengaluru operation. This takes Air India’s San Francisco offering from 10 to 16 weekly, with non-stop service from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

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.