Having the title of “the airline that flies to more countries than any other in the world” with 346 destinations in 130 countries over 6 continents, the airline has now started flights again to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, as of 21 May 2024.

Available for purchase as of 26 April 2024, Kabul flights will be operated 4 times weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Read more: News

At the Dubai Airshow 2023, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Al Meer joined hands with Inter’s executive team as the new Official Global Airline Partner of the club.

In a group-wide partnership, the multi-year agreement will incorporate branding, hospitality, and marketing rights, including tailored travel solutions for all Inter fans. The cooperation supports Qatar Airways in strengthening its footprint across Italy and Europe – a region of utmost importance to the airline. The partnership will also see extended group-wide rights with Inter, which include:

• Hamad International Airport as the ‘Official Airport’
• Qatar Duty-Free as the ‘Official Duty-Free’
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club as the ‘Official Frequent Flyer Programme’
• Qatar Airways Holidays as the ‘Official Fan Travel Partner’ in Qatar.

To celebrate this partnership, on the second day of the Dubai Airshow, Engr. Badr Al Meer hosted members of the Inter executive team with a tour of the Qatar Airways aircraft on display. Inter Legend, FIFA World Cup^TM champion, and UEFA Champions League winner, Marco Materazzi, also made a surprise appearance to commemorate what is anticipated to be an outstanding sports partnership with Qatar Airways Group.

The Inter delegation explored the Business Class suite onboard the Boeing 787-9, the award-winning Qsuite on the Airbus A350-1000, and the state-of-the-art Qatar Executive private jet, the Gulfstream G650ER. The delegation presented the airline with Inter jerseys printed with the number “7” to commemorate the airline’s seven times title of “World’s Best Airline”.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Al Meer, said: “Qatar Airways’ relationship with Milan goes back to 2002 when we announced Milan as our first service city in Italy from Doha. Partnering with the football sensation, Inter, brings our relationship full circle with this vibrant city. Italy is one of Qatar Airways’ most valued markets and this partnership will help deepen our relationship with not only Milan but all markets across Europe and Asia where Inter has a huge following. We look forward to working with the club to chart a new era of success, both on and off the pitch.”

“We’re so proud to welcome Qatar Airways to our family as a global partner,” explained Alessandro Antonello, FC Internazionale Milano CEO Corporate. “This agreement confirms the ever-growing appeal of our brand, which is now linked to one of the leading airlines in the world that shares our unwavering commitment to forge connections between places and people the world over. Thanks to this partnership, Qatar Airways will be granted access to our main touchpoints: our fanbase, which is made up of over 400 million supporters all over the globe, our illustrious history, our values and our unwavering connection with the city of Milan will support our new partner with its business development.”

To celebrate the partnership, Qatar Airways Privilege Club will be offering Inter fans discounts of up to 12 per cent on flight fares to witness the legendary Italian team compete at the San Siro Stadium.

Qatar Duty-Free (QDF) is set to elevate its standards of luxury through this distinguished sponsorship. Renowned as the unrivalled beacon of sophistication, Qatar Duty-Free was recently recognised as the 2023 “Airport Retailer of the Year” by the Frontier Awards. The partnership with Inter leverages QDF’s prestigious status and presents a transformative milestone for customers and VIP stakeholders alike.

The illustrious agreement with Inter will also comprise extending rights to Qatar Tourism, ensuring a well-rounded partnership with Qatar. This extended partnership underscores the shared vision between both entities, paves the way for strong relations between Italy and Qatar, and supports the implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Symbolising excellence in the world of aviation and football, the partnership enables Qatar Airways to connect the team to exciting overseas tours and competitions as its key travel partner. The airline will also increase its visibility in Milan with Qatar Airways’ branded LED signage around Inter’s San Siro Stadium.

Inter is a club steeped in a rich history of success and has consistently achieved greatness on both the domestic and international stages. With 19 Serie A, three UEFA Champions League and eight Italian Cup wins, Inter has truly etched its name in football history.  The club’s motto, “We are brothers and sisters of the world”, encapsulates their passionate fan base – the ‘Nerazzurri’ faithful, and aligns with Qatar Airways’ mission of uniting the world through the power of sport.

The airline currently operates from two airports in Italy, with three daily flights from Milan Malpensa and 18 weekly flights from Rome Fiumicino. From January 2024, flights to Rome will also increase from one to three daily flights.

Read more: News

Net profit for the period was KD6.27 million compared to KD 7.38 million for the same period last year. Profits for the last year also included a “one-off” gain of KD1.73 million from the airline’s sale and lease-back of engines. 

With strong demand for air travel, Jazeera’s passenger traffic showed a 40.9% increase to 2.1 million for the first half of the year. Load factors also increased by 4.1% to reach 78.1% in H1. 

Announcing the results, Marwan Boodai, Chairman, Jazeera Airways said: “As we share our positive results for the first half of 2023, we remain optimistic and confident of our performance. Demand for travel is high and we are pleased to see that reflected in the increased passenger traffic as well as consistent load factors. We have introduced several new and attractive destinations and look forward to launching others in the next half of the year. While doing so, we continue to focus on maximizing our operational and financial performance through different products, services, and initiatives, in the best interest of all our shareholders, partners and customers.” 

The Jazeera Airways Board of Directors approved an interim cash dividend of 28 fils per share, a total of KD6.16 million for H1 which reflects the company’s strong cash position. 

Financial and Operational Highlights

H1 2023 Highlights: 

• Operating revenue: KD97.8 million, up 26.1% from 1H 2022
• Operating profit: KD9.35 million, down 4.9% from 1H 2022*
• Net profit: KD6.27 million, down 15.1% from 1H 2022*
• Passengers: 2.1 million, up 40.9% from 1H 2022
• Load factor: 78.1%, up 4.1%
• Yield: KD42.83, down 10.5%

*Post Covid-19 effect

Second Quarter 2023 Review

In the second quarter of the year, Jazeera considerably expanded its network by adding direct flights to Moscow, Samarkand, Larnaca, Shiraz, Belgrade, Tirana and Tivat. The airline also became the first GCC carrier to fly direct from Kuwait to Sphinx International Airport in Cairo, Egypt making it Jazeera’s seventh destination in the country. 

Continuing its growth plan, the airline welcomed two additional aircraft to its fleet and has signed an order for more than 2,000 of the world’s lightest aircraft seats to renovate its fleet. With these new seats, each aircraft in the Jazeera fleet will deliver a substantial weight saving of 1.2 metric tons, reduce jet fuel consumption and increase passenger capacity with an additional row of seats. 

With a focus on improving and enhancing product offerings, Jazeera Airways also introduced online pre-ordering from their Duty-Free and Onboard shop. 

2023 Outlook

In the second half of the year, Jazeera will be announcing several new routes that will cater to the demands of both business and leisure travellers. 

By the end of the current financial year, Jazeera Airways will be en route to adding three more aircraft to its fleet. With the additional destinations planned for the rest of the year, these will help serve the airline’s fast-growing network. 

Key Takeaways

• Strong passenger growth of 2.1 million, load factor up by 4.1% to 78.1%
• Group revenues at KD97.8 million, up 26.1%
• Board approves interim cash dividends of 28 fils per share, a total of KD6.16 million for H1

Read more: News

This is part of a report from NLB Services, which states that the recent landmark deals mark a significant milestone for the aviation industry, particularly from a talent demand perspective.

With IndiGo’s order for 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft, valued at a staggering $50 billion, it not only establishes itself as the largest-ever single aircraft purchase by any airline with Airbus but also paves the way for tremendous employment opportunities in the aviation and allied sectors in India.

This announcement is the second after Air India’s deal with Boeing and Airbus a few months back and is expected to have a multiplier effect on employment generation in India.

India is currently grappling with a shortage of pilots, it only has 9000 pilots flying 700 aircraft.

Just in the next year, the new planes will require 1800-2000 pilots. This is over and beyond the rising demand to manage private fleets.

Demand for pilots alone is expected to grow 3X every year for the next 5 years and demand for critical technical profiles like aircraft craft engineers, and aerospace engineers is expected to grow by 10-15%. 

“Some of the must-have skills for the aviation industry include knowledge of aerodynamics, navigation, problem-solving skills, avionics, aviation security, and aviation hospitality skills amongst others,” added Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services.

With the thriving aviation market, rapid infrastructure development, and a young and skilled workforce, India is poised to shape the future of the aviation industry.

The Airbus and IndiGo deal serves as a testament to the vast opportunities that lie ahead, propelling India towards becoming a global aviation powerhouse.

Here are some of the profiles which are expected to benefit from the deal:

Here are some of the profiles which are expected to benefit from the deal in the air transportation and logistics industry:

Read more: News

The Kochi-headquartered, wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India, this airline connects 14 international destinations to 19 Indian cities, from metros to small towns. The low-cost carrier took flight in 2005, scripting aviation history as it made affordable and convenient air connectivity possible for the flourishing Indian expatriate community in the Gulf region. Delivering quality, comfort, and convenience; the airline ensures a unique travel experience for its guests.

The first of many

In the 17 years, since its inception, Air India Express has notched up many firsts to its credit. India’s first international budget airline, Air India Express began as a solution to the growing demand for easily affordable travel to the Gulf from smaller Indian cities.

The meteoric rise of the Indian community in the Gulf, especially from Kerala saw a growing demand for continuous travel between the borders. Today the airline’s fleet of 24 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operates medium and short-haul routes, operating to 34 destinations in the Gulf and South East Asia.

During the pandemic, it became the first airline to use robotic technology for UV sanitisation of aircraft. True to its spirit, Air India Express operated the country’s first Vande Bharat Mission flight and was the first Indian airline to operate an international flight with a fully vaccinated crew.

India first and always

Air India Express is the first airline to join Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian cities with international air connectivity. On many regional international routes, this airline is the only one to operate direct flights. Keeping India first in its brand ethos, the airline’s cabin crew is predominantly hired from smaller cities and North East India, giving many youngsters their first ticket to economic independence and global opportunities.

Post the global pandemic, the airline ramped up its operations and has succeeded in adding to its expanding team from cities and towns like Mangalore, Kozhikode, Trichy, Kochi, Imphal, and Guwahati, apart from metros.

Cementing its name in the economic growth of India, the airline operates one of the most successful low-cost-carrier business models in the country, with one of the lowest seat capacity costs globally. Prior to the pandemic, the airline had recorded net profits for five consecutive years and is revving up its operations to make the post of the post-pandemic growth in international travel to and from India.

Air-bound for India’s economic growth

The India-Gulf region, one of the largest migration corridors in the world fosters the movement of human capital and is among the busiest air routes in the world. It serves as a major source of income for India through remittances. Air India Express through its affordable and enhanced air connectivity has given flight to the Gulf dreams of millions of Indians who in the past decade have been instrumental in increasing the remittance income for India.

When the pandemic disrupted the global supply chain and slowed down India’s exports; Air India Express rose to the challenge and established a cargo organisation, operated cargo charters, and introduced Passenger to Cargo(P2C) flights to airlift India’s agricultural produce to overseas destinations.

This novel quick turnaround initiative created an overseas market for Indian farmers in the Middle East, South and South East Asia, empowered 35,000 tons of farm produce exports, and generated steady income for Indian farmers and exporters, until the global supply chain resumed normalcy in January 2022.

Cargo-in-cabin operations also brought in a steady income stream for the airline and helped the airline to optimise capacity utilisation with P2C flights and it also carried cargo in the belly holds of its normal passenger flights, thereby maximizing revenue opportunities all the way.

Promoting Indian culture in global skies

Keeping its India-centric approach; Air India Express promotes Indian art in its everyday operations. The airline’s Boeing 737-800 fleet features stunning tail art; each aircraft’s embellished tail art draws inspiration from the country’s inimitable cultural diversity.

Given its Kochi roots, the airline is all set to flaunt contemporary artwork from Kochi Muziris Biennale (scheduled in December 2022), India’s first biennial of international contemporary art. This interesting collaboration is set to exemplify a new marketing innovation to showcase an Indian art extravaganza in the skies, literally.

Empowering equality, in-flight and on land

Air India Express showcases the spirit of new India. Progressive and assertive, the airline maintains a firm stand on promoting diversity, inclusion, and gender equality. Forty percent of its team comprises of women leaders. Interestingly, the proportion of women pilots in Air India Express is higher than the national average.

The airline has 45 women pilots (16 Captains and 29 First Officers) and women leaders across key departments such as Commercial, Finance, Company Secretariat, Flight Dispatch, and Training. Feted and recognised as among the ‘Best Places to Work”, ‘Iconic Brands in Aviation’ and for its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives in reputed forums and industry meets; Air India Express has made a workplace that celebrates excellence and talent from across India.

As the post-pandemic world opens up, Air India Express is looking ahead to be the wings beneath India’s growing global impact and influence. The airline, already a market leader in the low-cost carrier (LCC) segment in the Gulf route is ramping up its business pillars of reliability, efficiency, safety, and service excellence. After all, connecting home-bound hearts and dream-laden eyes is never just business. It’s an act of priceless service to the nation.

Read More: Aviation

The aircraft, registered VT-TQE, arrived in Delhi today from Airbus’ production facility in Toulouse, France. It is one of the 13 Airbus A320neo that the airline had purchased in 2018 as part of a larger order totalling 50 aircraft from the Airbus A320neo Family, including the Airbus A321neo aircraft as well.

The new set of A320neo aircraft that the airline has been adding to its fleet comes with higher range capability (77 tonnes of maximum take-off weight), enabling the airline to fly longer regional international routes without payload restrictions.

This addition to the airline’s fleet takes the total count of the airline’s owned aircraft to three. The airline had also purchased six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for long-haul international operations, two of which are already in service.

Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “The Airbus A320 is an integral part of our fleet and growth story, and this particular aircraft is, indeed, special. It mirrors the maturity that Vistara has achieved in the Indian aviation industry in a short span of time, continuing to steadily grow in scale, size and operational assets. The new aircraft underlines our focus on continuous enhancement of fleet to provide world-class flying experience to our customers.”

The A320neo aircraft come with enhanced operational performance and cabin features that include in-seat AC Power Outlet, USB Charging Ports and PED (Personal Electronic Device) holders. It has a total of 164 seats in a three-class cabin configuration, including 8 seats in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy and 132 in Economy. The airline now has 46 aircraft in its fleet, including 36 Airbus A320, 2 Airbus A321neo, 2 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and 6 Boeing 737-800NG aircraft. 

Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor and has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards. In a short span of six years since starting operations, the airline has raised the bar for operations and service delivery in the Indian aviation industry by offering a world-class flying experience to travellers.

Read More: News

Since its inception in August 2006, IndiGo has grown from a single-plane carrier to a fleet of 189 aircraft, and currently operates flights to 48 domestic and 11 international destinations. Known for its customer service, IndiGo has a simple philosophy – offer fares that are low, flights that are on-time, and a travel experience that is courteous and hassle-free. Aligned with this philosophy, IndiGo has been buying customer-friendly & fuel efficient A320 NEO family aircraft, for which Michelin also happens to be an OE tyre supplier.

Michelin AIR X radial tyre is the reference in the global aircraft tire market. This tyre promises to provide an overall reduction in the operational costs through increased number of aircraft landings, better fuel efficiency & exceptional resistance to foreign object damage. Thanks to its innovative radial casing design, the tyres are also environment friendly, as they are designed to utilise fewer components and use less fuel leading to less CO2 emissions.

Frank Moreau, President of Michelin Aircraft Tyre, commented: “We have developed truly high-technology tyres that are perfectly adapted to the needs of the airlines. This means that we not only combined a high level of safety in extreme conditions and guarantee a large number of landings, but also allow fuel efficiency and environment friendliness”. 

The close strategic partnership forged between IndiGo and Michelin is poised to bring significant value to the aviation market not only in terms of enhanced safety and efficiency, but also in terms of contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly environment.

Read More: Aviation