Latest News.
First A350-1000 becomes airborne for its maiden flight
- Flight test campaign benefitting from the A350-900 experience and maturity;
- Three test aircraft to perform all flight testing in under one year;
- Development on track for entry into service scheduled for the second half of 2017.
The first of three A350-1000 development aircraft to fly – MSN059 – has landed at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport France at 15.00hrs local time after successfully completing its first flight which lasted four hours and 18 minutes.
The crew in the cockpit on board this flight comprised: Hugues Van Der Stichel, Experimental Test Pilot; Frank Chapman, Experimental Test Pilot and Gerard Maisonneuve, Test-Flight Engineer. Furthermore, monitoring all the test parameters at the Flight-Test-Instrumentation (FTI) station behind the cockpit were: Patrick du Ché, Head of Flight & Integration Tests; Emanuele Costanzo, Head of A350 Development Flight Tests; and Stéphane Vaux, Flight-Test Engineer.
Powered by Rolls-Royce’s new Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft traversed south-western France, during which the crew explored the aircraft’s handling and flight envelope. The aircraft was accompanied by a chase plane to observe and film the various manoeuvres. Its progress was monitored by experts on the ground in real-time via a direct telemetry link.
Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier said: “We have seen today the world’s most modern and efficient passenger aircraft – the A350-1000 – in action for the very first time, adding soon to the successful A350 Family. My congratulations and thanks go to all the teams who have contributed to make today’s flight happen.” He added: “We are equally pleased that many customers have witnessed this important milestone today together with us – here from our headquarters in Toulouse.”
Benefitting from the experience of the original A350-900 test campaign (accomplished in 2014), the A350-1000’s development programme will be shorter – under one year for the three aircraft. MSN059’s duties for performance testing will include exploration of the flight envelope, handling qualities, loads and braking. The second aircraft to fly, MSN071, will also be tasked with performance evaluation, which will encompass braking, powerplant, systems and autopilot. The third and final aircraft to fly – MSN065 – will be equipped with a cabin and will evaluate the cabin and air systems. MSN065 will also perform the “early long flights” and route-proving. The overall campaign will culminate in the type’s certification followed by its entry into airline service in the second half of 2017 with first operator Qatar Airways – the largest A350-1000 customer to date with 37 on order.
The A350-1000 is the latest member of the Airbus leading widebody family, together with the A330neo, offering unprecedented levels of operating efficiency, low noise and true long-range capability. As well as having a longer fuselage to accommodate 40 more passengers than the A350-900, the A350-1000 also features a modified wing trailing-edge, new six-wheel main landing gears and more powerful Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. The A350-1000 embodies all of the fuel efficiency and ‘Airspace’ cabin comfort of the original A350-900 – but with extra size perfectly tailored for our customers on some of their busiest long-haul routes. To date 11 customers from five continents have placed orders for a total of 195 A350-1000s.
Airlines
Indigo contributed 31 crores to India’s political party for election funds
In a recent disclosure, it has come to light that Rahul Bhatia, the promoter of IndiGo, along with companies under his InterGlobe Group, has made significant donations totaling Rs 56 crore to four political parties. Additionally, SpiceJet, led by Ajay Singh, has contributed Rs 70 lakh to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The data further reveals that InterGlobe Air Transport Ltd, a part of the InterGlobe Group, purchased 11 electoral bonds valued at Rs 1 crore each on May 10, 2019, amounting to a total of Rs 11 crore. Similarly, Interglobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, acquired 5 electoral bonds worth Rs 1 crore each on October 23, 2023, totaling Rs 5 crore.
InterGlobe Real Estate Venture and InterGlobe Air Transport Ltd directed the lion’s share of their political contributions, totaling Rs 31 crore, to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Surprisingly, the second-largest recipient was the Trinamool Congress (TMC), receiving Rs 16.2 crore from Bhatia. Additionally, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd allocated Rs 5 crore to the Congress party, while Bhatia contributed Rs 3.8 crore to its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Rahul Bhatia, individually, also made substantial contributions through electoral bonds, purchasing bonds worth Rs 20 crore. On April 7, 2021, a total of 29 electoral bonds were acquired, with 19 bonds valued at Rs 1 crore each and 10 bonds at Rs 10 lakh each, summing up to Rs 20 crore. When combined with the donations from IndiGo and its affiliated companies, the total contributions from the promoter and associated entities reach Rs 56 crore.
On the other hand, SpiceJet, once a prominent player in the Indian aviation industry, has seen a decline in its market position, currently ranking fifth in terms of market share. Despite this, the airline has engaged in political contributions, with donations made in three separate installments.
Aerospace
Comac is set to fly to five Southeast Asian countries for a C919 and ARJ21 demonstration tour
Following the successful debut of the COMAC aircraft at the Singapore Airshow 2024, the company has secured new branding rights for its products in the Southeast Asian aviation market. According to sources, the airline is directing its aircraft displays to Malaysia.
A static display and demonstration flight featuring the China-manufactured commercial aircraft C919 and ARJ21 were held on Wednesday at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia’s Selangor state.
The event showcased the brand-new C919 and ARJ21 aircraft, both quietly competing in the narrow-body segment market and slightly challenging the Boeing 737 and A320 family aircraft. The ARJ is tailored for regional airports with shorter routes.
C919 and ARJ21’s five-country tour.
This event concluded the C919 and ARJ21’s five-country Southeast Asian demonstration flight tour, which included visits to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
COMAC is actively seeking an international market alongside China. Currently, the company has amassed over 1100 aircraft orders for the COMAC C919 aircraft.
Throughout the demonstration flights and static displays, the aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) conducted a series of product promotion activities targeting potential customers.
Furthermore, the company aims to expand its airline network in these countries by obtaining regular licenses from their respective national aerospace authorities.
The purpose of the tour was to evaluate the aircraft’s adaptability to various airports and routes in the five countries, assess the ground service equipment’s suitability, test special flight procedures’ feasibility, and highlight the economic viability of these routes. COMAC stated that demonstration flights would lay the groundwork for future market development in Southeast Asia.
ARJ21 can carry 97 seats and C919- 192 seats.
The ARJ21 regional aircraft is designed to accommodate 78-97 passengers with a flight range of 2,225-3,700 kilometers. Meanwhile, the C919 jetliner offers a layout for 158-192 seats and a range of 4,075-5,555 kilometers, as per the company’s specifications.
The C919 completed its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023. Since then, China Eastern Airlines, its inaugural customer, has received five C919 aircraft, operating round-trip flights on Shanghai-Beijing and Shanghai-Chengdu routes. COMAC reports that it has safely transported over 140,000 passengers to date.
Latest News.
British Airways Resumes Service to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur
British Airways has announced the reintroduction of two important capital city routes, marking a bold foray back into the Asian market. To the pleasure of tourists and aviation enthusiasts alike, BA is ready to restore flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur after a protracted hiatus due to the epidemic.
BA has made a strategic choice to expand its network significantly in the Far East by starting flights again to Bangkok in October and Kuala Lumpur in November. Once mainstays on the ba airlines route chart, many wondered where these destinations would end up in the post-Covid network.
Beginning on November 10th, British Airways will fly to Kuala Lumpur every day from its primary hub at London Heathrow Airport. The airline will give passengers a variety of options, from First Class to World Traveller, aboard an aircraft configured with four cabins. This action demonstrates ba amex dedication to providing its entire range of services to these important Asian markets.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) from London Heathrow (LHR)All times are local | ||||||
Route | Flight number | Departing | Arriving | Date | Days in Operation | Aircraft |
LHR – KUL | BA33 | 20:45 | 17:30+1 | 10/11/24 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | 787-9 |
KUL – LHR | BA34 | 23:20 | 05:35+1 | 11/11/24 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | 787-9 |
Return flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) per person start at:
- First £4,000
- Club World £3,200
- World Traveller Plus £1,338
- World Traveller £620
Beginning on October 28th, british airways will start operating three weekly flights from London Gatwick to Bangkok. A three-cabin aircraft operating this seasonal route will offer alternatives for customers travelling as Club, World Traveller Plus, avios credit cards and World Traveller. The London Gatwick to Bangkok flight schedule is designed to accommodate the needs of passengers.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) from London Gatwick (LGW) All times are localThis is a winter only route | ||||||
Route | Flight number | Departing | Arriving | Date | Days in Operation | Aircraft |
LGW – BKK | BA2231 | 21:00 | 15:55+1 | 28/10/2024 | 1,4 and 6 | 777-200ER |
BKK – LGW | BA2230 | 22:55 | 05:30+1 | 29/10/2024 | 2,5 and 7 | 777-200ER |
british airways booking Return fares from London Gatwick (LGW) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) per person start at:
- Club World: £3,257
- World Traveller Plus: £1,297
- World Traveller: £699
Aviation
Lufthansa and SWISS Introduce High-Flying Wi-Fi for Short and Medium-Haul Flights
In a significant move towards enhancing the travel experience, the Lufthansa Group has announced its plan to equip all short and medium-haul aircraft on European routes with reliable Wi-Fi. Passengers flying with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and now SWISS can soon enjoy seamless internet connectivity while soaring at an altitude of 10,000 meters.
The initiative includes the installation of broadband internet on over 150 aircraft, specifically those in the Airbus A220/320 family – including models A220, A319, A320ceo, A320neo, A321ceo, and A321neo. british airways in flight entertainment This comprehensive rollout will commence in the fourth quarter of 2024, with completion expected in approximately two years.
SWISS, joining Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines in this technological leap, is set to gradually equip its short-haul aircraft fleet with broadband internet access starting from Winter 2024/2025. This strategic move aims to provide passengers with uninterrupted internet services, allowing them to stay connected, whether for personal or business reasons.
One notable feature is the introduction of unlimited free messaging for passengers on Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines flights, where travelers can send and receive messages on their smartphones or tablets at no additional cost. To avail this service, passengers need to log into FlyNet using their Miles & More service card number or an email address registered with the Lufthansa Group Travel ID.
The Lufthansa Group has partnered with Viasat to implement the technology and services required for this massive upgrade. Additionally, the group has reduced the prices for other internet packages, making it more affordable for passengers to access faster Premium internet services. does air india have wifi
SWISS takes it a step further by offering free internet access for chat and messenger services, such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, on its short-haul flights. Travelers will be able to send and receive unlimited text and picture messages throughout their journey. For those seeking a more extensive online experience, SWISS provides various product offers for activities such as email, web surfing, social media use, streaming, and VPN services, catering to diverse passenger preferences.
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