Aviation

Kingfisher aircraft to be auctioned; expected to fetch around Rs 535 crore.!

The Service Tax Department will next month auction liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s corporate jet of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines to recover dues of Rs 535 crore. The department in Mumbai has invited online global bids for sale of Corporate Jet Airbus A319 stationed at the Mumbai International Airport belonging to Kingfisher Airlines which has already been attached by it.

The bidding will be conducted by MSTC, the selling agent of the Service Tax Department, on November 28-29, an auction notice said. As part of the pre-bid verification, bidders can seek clarification from the department regarding the aircraft, its particulars, equipment and any related documents.

“The bidder would not raise any dispute regarding the terms and conditions of the e-auction or about the particulars of the aircraft or contest the same once he has been declared as the successful bidder for the aircraft,” said the guidelines for the e-auction.

The prospective bidders shall have to submit interest free pre-Bid Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to MSTC by November 27. EMD for Indian bidders has been kept at Rs 1 crore while it will be USD 1,52,000 for foreign players.

In March, the department had claimed in a petition to the Bombay High Court that Mallya’s total disputed liability in respect of service tax was to the tune of Rs 535 crore. It was also claimed that Mallya had collected a large sum of money as service tax from flyers of the now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines on behalf of the government, but the same was not deposited in the government treasury.

Mallya, whose group company owes over Rs 9,000 crore to 17 banks, had left the country on March 2 and is believed to be in the UK. In August this year, lenders to the now-grounded airline and tax authorities had put under the hammer various movable and immovable assets of KFA for the second time, but failed to get any buyers

Courtesy : Indian Express

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.