Airlines

Emirates Converts Aircraft Interiors into Backpacks

How Emirates pilots reduce fuel and emissions during operations

In celebration of World Environment Day and as a part of its commitment to responsible consumption, Emirates Airlines is embarking on a meaningful initiative.

With more than 50,000 kilograms of materials sourced from 191 aircraft undergoing cabin interior refreshes, Emirates is set to give these materials a new lease on life. The airline is personally crafting thousands of handmade children’s backpacks and schoolbags from these repurposed materials.

These backpacks will be donated to community schools and organizations supporting early education initiatives across Africa and Asia this year. Emirates’ Engineering team took on the challenge of repurposing materials from the Economy Class seats of 22 Airbus A380 aircraft, which had completed the retrofit process.

Recovering 5,205 kilograms of scrap materials, including seat fabric composed of 95% wool and 5% nylon sourced from Germany and Ireland, the team identified these materials as ideal for upcycling due to their durability and non-flammable nature. Thus, the decision was made to create high-quality backpacks for children in need.

In the workshop at Emirates Engineering, a dedicated team of tailors creatively designed a diverse range of backpacks suitable for children of different ages. Collaborating with Emirates Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand team, charitable entities, schools, orphanages, and foundations were identified as recipients for the bags, set to be distributed in the coming months.

Teams from emirates devoted weeks to studying different bag designs, making sure the products are functional, safe, and comfortable for kids to use. Before being stitched into one-of-a-kind pieces, every fabric used in each design is meticulously sanitised, leather-conditioned for the leather accents shown on some bags, and newly laundered in a facility. The bags now have adjustable straps, working zippers, and a brand-new lining. The end product is a line of robust, high-quality bags that Emirates will custom-make for deserving organisations in Asia and Africa.

Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.