Aviation

Spice Jet launches taxi service for its passengers at 28 airports

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On Friday, Spice Jet announced that it had begun offering taxi services to its customers at 28 major airports, including Dubai. According to a statement from the airline, passengers who book flights on Spice Jet will receive an SMS with information about the Spice Jet taxi service.

When it is updated, their reservation will be confirmed, and a clean, well-kept cab will be held for them until their departure to make the trip easier and less stressful. It should be noted that the airline also said that after finishing their rides, travellers would also receive an immediate cashback.

SpiceJet’s Chief Business Officer, Debojo Maharshi, said: “The SpiceJet experience for our customers would be improved by this all-encompassing service. With a convenient doorstep service, no waiting, and confirmed cabs at arrival stations as well, we are removing the burden associated with reserving a cab to or from an airport.”

Using the Spice Screen capability, SpiceJet already provides the ability to book cabs mid-flight, during the journey. The additional services will improve travel convenience for travellers. With their taxi services, the services also help passengers with the difficulty of airport drop-off and pickup.

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Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.