Aviation

Six airBaltic Airbus A220s grounded due to lack of spare parts

According to the airline’s CEO, six of airBaltic’s Airbus A220 aircraft are grounded owing to a lack of spare components.

According to the airline’s CEO, six of airBaltic‘s Airbus A220 aircraft are grounded owing to a lack of spare components. There are 36 Airbus A220-300 aircraft in the Latvian carrier’s fleet, but not all of them are now operational, Martin Gauss said in a message to customers apologizing for recent delays.

Six of our aircraft are presently forced to stay on the ground due to global supply chain concerns, according to Gauss, because we are lacking replacement parts for routine maintenance. He characterized it as “extremely unusual” since some of the grounded aircraft had been idle for six months.

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In its first-half financial report on July 28, 2022, French aerospace company Safran reported that the recovery in air travel in 2022 has led to an increase in demand for spare aeroplane components, but supply chain concerns are preventing efforts to ramp up production. Olivier Andriès, the company’s chief executive, told analysts that he believes the supply chain problems will likely last until 2023, possibly even into 2023. AirBaltic is wet leasing jets from other airlines, such as the national carrier of Ukraine, UIA, to make up for the grounded aircraft.

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According to Gauss, there isn’t enough staff at airports to handle baggage loading, staff the gates, or work the security checks. Because of this, even though we arrive at these airports with you on schedule in the morning, our return flights are delayed, which causes delays for ensuing flights as well. Things were soon going to be back to normal. “European airports should be better prepared to handle the situation after summer is done and we have decreased our flight schedule for the winter season.”

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Aviation

Airbus and French Aerospace Firms Growing Exports from India

In a significant move to bolster its supply chain, European aerospace giant Airbus has announced plans to ramp up component sourcing from India, tapping into the country’s vast opportunities.

During a press briefing in New Delhi on October 7, CEO Guillaume Faury emphasized the strategic importance of India within the Airbus supply chain, highlighting the company’s robust network of over 100 suppliers in the region.

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Faury, who also serves as Chairman of the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS), noted that there are abundant prospects for collaboration between Indian and French aerospace companies. Leading a high-level delegation from GIFAS, comprising more than 60 companies and over 100 representatives, Faury aims to foster deeper partnerships and enhance business opportunities between India and France.

“We will continue to grow our sourcing of components,” Faury stated, forecasting a doubling of component sourcing approximately every five years over the next decade. This stable growth trajectory underscores Airbus’s commitment to deepening its ties with India.

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Currently, Airbus holds an impressive order book of around 8,600 aircraft and anticipates producing about 770 planes this year. This ambitious production plan aligns with the expected surge in India’s domestic air passenger traffic, projected to reach 300 million by 2030, according to Union Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu.

During the briefing, Naidu also highlighted the substantial investments being made to develop India’s airport infrastructure, with $11 billion allocated for this purpose. The government plans to develop 200 additional airports over the next 20 to 25 years, significantly expanding the current count of 157 airports, heliports, and waterdromes. By the end of 2025, the number of operational airports is expected to reach 200.

“The potential for partnership between India and France is immense,” Naidu remarked, further reinforcing the collaborative spirit that Airbus and French aerospace firms seek to cultivate in India.