Airlines

Mitsubishi Announced The Discontinuation Of SpaceJet program

A decade after the passenger plane was scheduled to enter commercial service, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said Tuesday it had abandoned its struggling project to develop a passenger plane.

The cancellation of the SpaceJet programme also puts an end to Japan’s dreams of resurrecting its domestic aircraft manufacturing sector. The program’s aircraft launch date was postponed six times, and its development expenditures totaled about JPY1 trillion (USD7.6 billion). The SpaceJet program’s ongoing development was put on hold in 2020 to reduce development expenses.

Meet Japan’s 6th Gen Fighter jet and its mind blowing features(Opens in a new browser tab)

Despite initial optimism, the SpaceJet, then known as the Regional Jet (MRJ), introduction in 2008 was met with a number of delays and order cancellations. Mitsubishi never received a type certificate (TC) for the SpaceJet, and the project came to an end without Japan having a domestic commercial aircraft programme.

In a slide included in Mitsubishi’s Q3 FY2022 financial report about the cancellation of the development of the regional jet, the company stated that it will “leverage knowledge and experience acquired through the SpaceJet programme to continue contributing to the Japanese aviation industry, which aspires to return OEM aircraft manufacture to the country.” Additionally, the conglomerate took away two lessons. Initially, that it lacked “resources to pursue long-term development” and an adequate starting understanding of the complex type certification process for commercial aircraft.

Mitsubishi has so far produced eight M90s. One was scrapped in 2022, one is a testbed aircraft that hasn’t been delivered, two are finished but are still at the assembly site and aren’t allocated, three are in Moses Lake storage, and one is in Nagoya Komaki storage.

Source:

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.