Aviation

IndiGo to have 1,000 daily flights by year-end

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NEW DELHI: In a first for Indian carriers, IndiGo will be operating 1,000 daily flights before the end of this year. It got on track to cross that milestone with the announcement of 47 new flights (19 new sectors and 28 additional flights) on Monday which will see it operating 1,000 daily flights from December 23, 2017.

IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh said: “A thousand daily flights is a milestone that no airline in India has ever achieved before. As Indians we are proud to create this new record. While one thousand is just a number, for us each flight represents an opportunity for millions to chase their dreams. As we approach this mark, we cannot hide our excitement and thank our over a hundred million customers who have made this journey possible!”

IndiGo currently has 142 Airbus A-320s in its fleet, with over 400 narrow body planes still on order. IndiGo promoters have signaled their intent on operating wide body aircraft to long haul international routes.

IndiGo reaches 200 million passengers mark

Adding yet another milestone to its credit, IndiGo, country’s largest and
the fastest-growing carrier, flew its 200 millionth passenger thereby reaching another historic
milestone in eleven years of operations. The 200 millionth passenger – Ms Bheeni Kapur who flew from
Delhi on IndiGo flight 6E-6929 – was greeted by IndiGo staff on checking in at Delhi airport with a
boarding card placard, a bouquet and a hamper of goodies. On board the flight, IndiGo made a special
announcement to recognize its 200 millionth passenger Ms Kapur who also received a complimentary
on-board meal box.
After our 200 millionth passenger took off today, every following customer received a thank you card
at the boarding gates across stations. The milestone underlines IndiGo’s position as the country’s
largest and fastest-growing carrier with 149 Airplanes including 1 ATR aircraft connecting 49
destinations.

Courtesy : TOI

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly