Airlines

Finnair to lease two A330 aircraft to Oneworld partner Qantas

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In accordance with a long-term contract, Finnair will first wet lease (lease two A330 aircraft with crew) to Qantas for a period of two years, and then dry lease (lease two A330 aircraft without crew) to Qantas for a period of 2.5 years, beginning in 2025. The first aircraft will be under wet lease beginning in October 2023, and the second aircraft will be under wet lease beginning in early 2024.

The arrangement with Qantas is a component of Finnair’s relentless efforts to secure the best possible use of its A330 fleet, which has limited range when deployed in Finnair’s own long-haul operations due to the closure of Russian airspace. Following the shutdown of Russian airspace, Finnair’s fleet was optimized, and the agreement with Qantas marks its completion.

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The planes will be used in Qantas’ network on routes between Sydney and Bangkok as well as Sydney and Singapore throughout the wet lease period. The pilots of Finnair will fly regularly scheduled Finnair flights from Helsinki to Singapore and Helsinki to Bangkok. They will then continue flying regularly scheduled Qantas flights between Singapore, Bangkok, and Sydney before returning to Helsinki, where they are based.

In addition to performing aircraft maintenance at the Qantas destinations, Finnair partners with offices in Singapore and Bangkok also provide the cabin crew. Finnair has acquired enough pilot personnel to support the size of its fleet, which includes the planes it has leased to Qantas. Due to their full deployment in other airlines, the Qantas agreement has no impact on the number of cabin personnel at Finnair.

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The partnership enables Finnair to deploy its A330 aircraft in a cost-effective and successful manner. Because flying through Russian airspace increased travel times between Finnair’s hub in Helsinki and its Asian destinations, the airline has constructed a network that is more geographically balanced after the shutdown of the Russian airspace. As part of this new strategy, Finnair has been fostering relationships with its oneworld partners, as evidenced by the deal with Qantas.

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.