Connect with us

Airlines

Air India finalizes 800 LEAP engine order and signs multi-year engine services agreement

Air India finalizes 800 LEAP engine order and signs multi-year engine services agreement

The LEAP engine order between Air India and CFM International, which was initially announced in February and will power the airline’s new fleet of 210 Airbus A320/A321neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft, has been finalized. Additionally, a multi-year servicing contract was inked by the two parties and it covers all of the airline’s LEAP engines.

Since 2002, when it started using CFM56-5B engines to power its Airbus A320ceo fleet, Air India has been a client of CFM. Air India became the first LEAP-1A-powered operator in India in 2017 when it started flying A320neos. There are now 27 A320neo family aircraft powered by LEAP-1A in the airline’s fleet.

Advertisement

Alaska Airlines Saves 480,000 Gallons Of Fuel With AI assisted flight planning(Opens in a new browser tab)

Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, stated: “We are pleased to celebrate with CFM a significant contract that will play a critical part in our future development. “We will optimise our operations in terms of environmental footprint and operational cost, while benefiting our customers,” says the services agreement and the adoption of the LEAP engine on a larger scale.

Advertisement

Gal Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International, remarked that the reaffirmed faith of Air India was a significant turning point in the company’s history. “This order solidifies our presence in India and binds us to continue supporting Air India’s growth with the highest CFM standards in terms of dependability, efficiency, and customer support.”

Air India Finalizes Order for Up to 290 Boeing Single-Aisle and Widebody Jets(Opens in a new browser tab)

Advertisement

With more than 33 million engine flight hours and 15 million flight cycles, the LEAP engine family has accumulated flight hours among the quickest in commercial aviation history.

When compared to earlier generations of engines, LEAP engines consume 15 to 20 percent less fuel, emit less CO2, and are significantly quieter. Compared to the same flights conducted using aircraft powered by earlier generation engines, customers have been able to save more than 20 million tonnes of CO2 since the LEAP engine entered service in 2016.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Airlines

United Flight Diverts to Shannon, After Stuck Laptop in Business Class Seat

United Flight Diverts to Shannon, After Stuck Laptop in Business Class Seat

A United Airlines flight from Zurich to Chicago O’Hare was forced to make an emergency diversion to Shannon, Ireland.

On Saturday afternoon after a passenger got their laptop wedged in a Business Class seat aboard the Boeing 767-300. Operating as United Flight 12, the aircraft departed from Flughafen Zürich at 9:46 a.m. local time and took off at 10:08 a.m.

Advertisement

The captain decided to divert the flight not because the passenger couldn’t access their laptop, but because any device powered by lithium-ion batteries that becomes inaccessible could pose a significant safety risk.

Such devices, if damaged or overheated, could lead to a thermal runaway event, potentially causing a fire on board. The Boeing 767-300, featuring United’s relatively new Polaris business-class cabin, landed safely at Shannon Airport in County Clare at 1:43 p.m. IST (Irish Summer Time) and reached the gate at 1:51 p.m.

Advertisement

In a statement, United Airlines acknowledged the diversion: “United flight 12 scheduled from Zurich to Chicago landed safely in Shannon to address a potential safety risk caused by a laptop being stuck in an inaccessible location.” This situation led to the cancellation of the flight, and the airline is working to reroute the 157 passengers who found themselves unexpectedly in Ireland.

Frequent flyers are often reminded in airline safety videos not to move their seats if they lose mobile phones or other gadgets powered by lithium-ion batteries within the seats. Attempting to retrieve such items by moving the seat can damage the battery and potentially cause a dangerous situation.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Airlines

Air India Flight Collides with Tug Tractor, at Pune Airport

Air India Flight Collides with Tug Tractor, at Pune Airport

An Air India flight bound for Delhi faced an unexpected hurdle during its taxi towards the runway at Pune Airport on Thursday, May 16th.

The aircraft, carrying 180 passengers, encountered a collision with a tug tractor, though fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. The incident, while causing significant damage to the aircraft, triggered swift emergency protocols, ensuring the safety of all individuals involved.

Advertisement

Upon the mishap, passengers were promptly disembarked from the plane, and alternative arrangements were made for their accommodation as they found themselves stranded at the airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the collision, according to ANI reports.

Preliminary findings suggest that the tug truck, utilized for maneuvering the aircraft on the ground, inadvertently struck the plane during the taxiing process. Despite the incident, airport operations continued with minimal disruption. However, the affected aircraft was temporarily withdrawn from service for comprehensive inspection and necessary repairs.

Advertisement

Air India, in response to the situation, assured passengers of full refunds and complimentary rescheduling. The airline’s statement conveyed, “There was an incident related to one of our aircraft, which was to operate Pune to Delhi, at the time of its pushback. The aircraft was held back for checks, all passengers were offloaded safely, and the flight was cancelled.”

Passengers affected by the cancellation were provided with refunds and the option for rescheduling their travel plans without additional charges. The damage to the aircraft, primarily located near the belly where the pushback tug made contact, underscores the need for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Airlines

After Flight Cancellation, Virgin Atlantic Passengers Told to Arrange Own Hotels

After Flight Cancellation, Virgin Atlantic Passengers Told to Arrange Own Hotels

Ian Field and his partner Jane, both residents of the London area, faced an unexpected and costly ordeal while on a trip to St. Lucia in the Caribbean.

The couple, who had flown out from Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic flight VS221 on May 5, discovered upon arrival that their May 15 return flight was canceled for “operational reasons.” Despite Virgin Atlantic’s explanation, Field suspected the cancellation was due to a lack of passengers, as the airline is set to cease the route after May 19.

Advertisement

Stranded on the island, Field and Jane were left to fend for themselves for two additional nights. Both Virgin Atlantic and their travel agency, Blue Bay Travel, failed to provide assistance or accommodation, forcing the couple to pay over £400 out of pocket for their hotel stay.

Virgin Atlantic advised those without sufficient funds to seek financial help from family members, which added to the couple’s frustration. “We feel completely abandoned and let down terribly,” Field expressed to The Independent.

Advertisement

The lack of response from Virgin Atlantic and the unhelpful attitude of the travel agent exacerbated their distress. Although Field and his partner could afford the unexpected expense, he expressed concern for those who might not be in a similar financial position.

In response, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson stated that all affected customers were rebooked on alternative flights and could amend their bookings through the airline’s “rebook me” function if needed. The spokesperson apologized for the delay and inconvenience, assuring that customers would receive EC261 compensation of £520 per person and be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending