Airlines

Blocking Qatar Airways Flights by Australian Government Might Incur Annual Costs of Up to $500 Million

According to industry figures, preventing Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways from expanding its aircraft capacity would cost the Australian economy over $500 million in lost yearly tourism revenue. However, Transport Minister Catherine King told the legislature that this decision was made to preserve domestic job prospects.

The Australian Financial Review obtained figures from sources in the airline industry that show a cost of between $540 million and $788 million yearly in additional economic activity, based on the assumption that roughly 50% of the seats are sold to foreign tourists.

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Ms. King, who wasn’t previously said why she decided to stop Qatar Airways from increasing flights to Melbourne and Sydney, told the parliament on Wednesday that she took action to safeguard the interests of the country.

“We only sign up to agreements that benefit our national interest, in all of its broad complexity,” she added. “That includes making sure we have an aviation sector, through the recovery, that employs Australian workers.”

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We will always take into account the need to ensure that there are long-term, well-paying, secure jobs for Australians in the aviation sector when we are making these decisions, the government has determined that granting the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority’s request for additional services is not in our national interest.

As part of Qatar Airways‘ application for bilateral flying rights, the Federal Government asked for Qantas’ advice. According to The Australian, Qantas resisted the offer on the grounds that it would result in the loss of Australian jobs.

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Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

Soon, Air India aircraft will feature onboard WiFi & all-new cabins: Click here

“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

Air India’s First A350-900: Interior, Routes, &Inflight Features: Click here

This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.