Airlines

India’s new regional airline ‘Fly19’ backed by former Kingfisher executive to begin soon

A former Kingfisher Airlines executive and the former India head of Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial are teaming up to create a new regional airline at a time when demand for air travel is rising in India.

Harsha Raghavan, current managing partner at Convergent Finance LLP, will lead the new airline, Fly91. He will be the planned airline’s Chairman. Manoj Chacko, formerly of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, will be the CEO. Fly91 plans to begin operations in December 2023, with a base in Goa.

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Fly91 will be active in the short-haul sector, where flights typically run 45 to 90 minutes. About 30% of domestic passengers in India fly into regional airports, which the airline would serve. As a solely focused passenger airline, it will operate a conventional fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft, each of which can seat between 72 and 78 passengers.

In view of the fact that countless airlines, both big and small, have previously failed to sustain operations, both Chacko and Raghavan are aware of how challenging it is to establish and maintain an airline in the competitive Indian industry.

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However, they think that keeping things straightforward and focusing on the fundamentals is the key. Chacko declared, “We must keep in mind two essential factors. The first is that, at our core, we are in the transportation business, and getting people from point A to point B safely, comfortably, and economically is our primary goal.”

The second is to make things incredibly simple, concentrate to the fundamentals, execute them flawlessly, and avoid trying to reinvent the wheel when it is not required.

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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.

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“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.

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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.