Aerospace

Emirates is unhappy after abruptly cancelling a flight at LHR airport.

Emirates to increase flights on Dubai-Cairo route

constantly and collectively to protect our flight operations and ensure minimal customer disturbance, especially during high travel months

It is consequently deeply sad that LHR offered us 36 hours to comply with capacity cuts last evening, a figure that appears to have been snatched from thin air. Their letters not only specified which planes we should reject paying customers, but also threatened legal action if we did not comply.

These requests are completely ridiculous and unacceptable, and we reject them.

Our ground handling and catering operations at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) are managed by dnata. Emirates Group – are well prepared and competent of handling our flights. As a result, the crux of the problem is with the airport operator’s central services and systems.

Emirates is an important and consistent operator at LHR, having reintroduced six daily A380 flights beginning in October 2021. Our operating requirements cannot be a surprise to the airport after 10 months of consistently high seat loads.

They now want to force Emirates to reject tickets to tens of thousands of passengers who have paid for and booked months in advance their long-awaited package holidays or flights to see their loved ones. And this at the peak season with the forthcoming UK holidays, when many people are keen to travel following two years of pandemic restrictions.

Emirates is committed to doing the right thing for our customers. However, with all flights running full for the next few weeks, including at other London airports and on other airlines, re-booking the large number of possibly impacted passengers is unfeasible. To complicate matters further, 70% of our LHR customers are travelling beyond Dubai to see loved ones in far-flung destinations, and it will be tough to locate them new onward connections at short notice.

Emirates is unhappy after abruptly cancelling a flight at LHR airport.

Emirates unveils more spacious Business Class seats on its Boeing 777 aircraft

It is also unrealistic to move some of our passenger operations to other UK airports at such short notice. It is not as straightforward as locating a parking spot at a mall to ensure ground readiness for a widebody long-haul aircraft with 500 passengers on board.

The final truth is that the LHR management team is unconcerned about travellers and airline customers. All of the signs pointed to a robust travel comeback, and Emirates has been loud about it for months. We planned ahead of time to be ready to service customers and meet travel demand, including rehiring and training 1,000 A380 pilots in the previous year.

LHR decided not to act, plan, or invest. Faced with a “airmageddon” situation as a result of government incompetence and inaction, they are shifting the entire weight – of costs and the hurry to sort out the issue – to airlines and passengers.

The decisions of the London Heathrow management team should be scrutinised by the airport’s shareholders.

Given the enormous value that the aviation community generates for the UK economy and communities, we applaud the action taken by the UK Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority to request information from LHR on their response plans, system resilience, and the seemingly arbitrary cap of 100,000 daily passengers. Given that LHR handled 80.9 million passengers in 2019, or a daily average of 219,000, the cap represents a more than 50% reduction at a time when LHR claims to have 70% of ground handling resources in place.

Emirates intends to continue operating to and from LHR as usual till further notice.

Related Topics:Emirates LHR London Heathrow

Dawal

He is an aviation journalist and the founder of Jetline Marvel. Dawal gained a comprehensive understanding of the commercial aviation industry. He has worked in a range of roles for more than 9 years in the aviation and aerospace industry. He has written more than 1700 articles in the aerospace industry. When he was 19 years old, he received a national award for his general innovations and holds the patent. He completed two postgraduate degrees simultaneously, one in Aerospace and the other in Management. Additionally, he authored nearly six textbooks on aviation and aerospace tailored for students in various educational institutions. jetlinem4(at)gmail.com

Aerospace

Indigo will soon launch Air Taxi Service in India

Image:Archer Aviation

InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent brand of IndiGo, is set to revolutionize travel in India with its upcoming air taxi service.

Scheduled for a potential launch in 2026, this innovative venture promises a seamless journey for passengers between two bustling hubs. Delhi and Gurgaon in Haryana. The forthcoming service is projected to revolutionize the daily commute, offering passengers a swift aerial journey covering the distance in a mere 7 minutes.

This remarkable efficiency contrasts starkly with the conventional 90-minute drive, underscoring the immense time-saving potential for commuters. The anticipated fare, ranging from Rs 2,000-3,000, makes this innovative mode of transport not only swift but also remarkably competitive in pricing.

At the heart of this ambitious endeavor lies a strategic partnership with Archer Aviation, a pioneer in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft technology. Under this collaboration, Archer will supply 200 state-of-the-art eVTOL aircraft, representing an investment of US$ 1 billion. These cutting-edge aircraft, capable of accommodating up to four passengers alongside the pilot, epitomize the future of sustainable air travel.

Powered by six battery packs, Archer’s eVTOL aircraft boast rapid charging capabilities, enabling a swift turnaround between flights. With a charging time of just 30-40 minutes, these eco-friendly aircraft ensure minimal downtime, maximizing operational efficiency.

Similar services are anticipated to be introduced by the joint venture in Bengaluru and Mumbai as well. Nevertheless, the service rollout period has not yet been made public by the company. Next year, it is anticipated to get its certification. Following this, the company will start the certification procedure with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Aerospace

Which is bigger 777x or 787 aircraft ?

The 777X is a new series of the Boeing 777 family and is designed to be larger and more efficient than its predecessor. It features two variants: the 777-8 and the 777-9, being the larger of the two.

The Boeing 777X emerges as the larger sibling within the Boeing family, representing a significant leap forward in both size and efficiency. Comprising two variants, the 777-8 and the 777-9, the latter takes the crown as the larger of the two. With its expansive fuselage and impressive wingspan, the 777X is tailored for long-range journeys and boasts a substantial passenger capacity.

On the other hand, the Boeing 787, affectionately known as the Dreamliner, occupies a niche in the market as a smaller yet formidable aircraft designed for medium to long-range flights. Its distinguishing feature lies in its composite fuselage, a technological marvel that renders it lighter and more fuel-efficient compared to conventional aluminum counterparts. The Boeing 777X is larger than the Boeing 787 aircraft.

When it comes to passenger capacity, the 777-9 reigns supreme, typically accommodating a sizeable contingent of 400-425 passengers in its standard configuration. In contrast, the 787, with its more modest dimensions, typically carries between 240-290 passengers, depending on the variant and layout.

One of the remarkable innovations introduced with the 777X is its folding wingtips, a feature designed to address the logistical challenges of accommodating such a large aircraft in conventional airport gates. These folding wingtips enable the 777X to retract its wings, allowing it to fit into gates designed for smaller aircraft while still reaping the benefits of an extended wingspan during flight, thereby enhancing fuel efficiency and operational flexibility

Aerospace

China Secures Production Certificate for Mass Production of Pilotless eVTOL Aircraft

EHang

The first passenger-carrying pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the world, the EH216-S, has received the Production Certificate for its eVTOL aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

This is a significant milestone for EHang Holdings Limited, the leading UAM technology platform company in the world. This outstanding accomplishment is another big step towards mass manufacturing for the eVTOL aircraft and the ensuing commercial operations, building on the ground-breaking acquisition of the Type Certificate and the Standard Airworthiness Certificate for the EH216-S.

The PC is a crucial certificate that the aircraft maker receives from the CAAC, the country’s aviation authority. By obtaining this certificate, EHang has demonstrated that it has set up a quality management system for mass production that satisfies the airworthiness regulation standards set forth by the CAAC, and the company has been given permission to continue producing mass quantities.

It is also a strong guarantee of the calibre of the goods made by EHang. Raw materials, supplier management, manufacturing organisation, production quality control, aircraft pre-delivery test, after-sales repair and maintenance, etc. are all included in the mass production quality management system for the EH216-S.

To ensure that every aircraft and its components that roll off the production line strictly adhere to the approved type design and safety requirements, the system sets clear guidelines and documentation for every step in the production procedure. This ensures comprehensive traceability and safety control.