Aviation

Akasa Air gets Air Operator Certificate from aviation regulator DGCA

On Akasa Air, you can now travel with your pets; bookings open from 15 Oct

Since Akasa Air entered the sector, a new wave has begun in the aviation industry. The airline is backed up by the most well-known key person. According to Akasa Air, the AOC represents the satisfactory completion of all regulatory and compliance criteria for the airline’s operating readiness.

As per the airline, the procedure finished with the airline successfully conducting a number of proving flights under the supervision of the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).

On June 21, the airline, which is sponsored by ace stock market investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, took delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max aircraft in India.

“We are thankful to the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA for their constructive guidance, active support and the highest levels of efficiency throughout the AOC process. We now look forward to opening our flights for sale, leading to the start of commercial operations by late July,” Vinay Dube, Founder-Chief Executive Officer of Akasa Air, said.

Following the government’s initiative to usher in a new era of digitalisation, Akasa Air is the first airline to perform its end-to-end AOC procedure on the government’s advanced eGCA digital platform, according to the airline.

According to the airline, it will begin commercial operations later this month with two planes and would then add planes to its fleet on a monthly basis.

The airline will have 18 aircraft by the end of fiscal year 2022-23, and will then add 12-14 aircraft per 12 months. This will complete its purchase for 72 aircraft to be delivered over a five-year period, according to the company.

Akasa Air stated in November that it had ordered 72 ‘737 Max’ aircraft from Boeing. The order includes two 737 MAX variants: the 737-8 and the 738-200.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.