Airlines

Vistara inaugurates daily non-stop flight between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi

The best full-service airline in India, Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and the Tata Group, has begun nonstop daily flights between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi.

Vistara Announces Daily Direct Flights Between Mumbai And Muscat From 12 December 2022

The best full-service airline in India, Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and the Tata Group, has begun nonstop daily flights between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi. The maiden flight will leave Mumbai at 1910 IST and land in Abu Dhabi at 2040 GMT, making Vistara the first airline to ever offer passengers the option of Premium Economy class in addition to Business and Economy class on the route.

What would happen if Air India and Vistara Airlines combined? How did Singapore Airlines measure up?(Opens in a new browser tab)

The CEO of Vistara, Mr. Vinod Kannan, stated: “We are thrilled to add Abu Dhabi to our growing worldwide network. We have been progressively enhancing our footprint in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf area. Abu Dhabi fits perfectly within our network due to the booming commerce, trade, and tourism in the UAE. Passengers will value the option of travelling on this route with the top airline in India and South Asia.

Schedule of flights to/from Abu Dhabi, UAE effective from 1 October 2022:

Sector	Flight No.	Days of Operation	Departure	Arrival
Mumbai – Abu Dhabi	UK 0255	Daily	1910 Hrs	2040 Hrs
Abu Dhabi – Mumbai	UK 0256	Daily	2140 Hrs	0235 Hrs (+1)

Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings.

In a short span of over seven years since starting operations, Vistara has raised the bar for operations and service standards in the Indian aviation industry to become the country’s most loved airline and has recently crossed the milestone of flying 35 million passengers.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

DAMAC Air: Dubai’s New Luxury Airline Offers Free Flights for Registration

The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.