Air transport http://www.timesaerospace.aero/ en Tue, 10 Jun 2025 13:41:30 +0100 IndiGo expands its Central Asian network http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/route-planning-and-tourism/indigo-expands-its-central-asian-network

Starting July 1, 2025, IndiGo will commence operations from Mumbai to Almaty, followed by flights to Tashkent from August 01, 2025, and to Tbilisi from August 02, 2025. The airline will operate four weekly flights to both Tashkent and Almaty, and three weekly flights to Tbilisi, significantly enhancing connectivity between India and the growing markets of Central Asia.

The new routes are set to boost tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties, while offering customers more travel options across the region. IndiGo had launched flights to these cities from Delhi in 2023, and this move marks another step in the airline’s commitment to expanding its international footprint and meeting the rising demand for international travel. 

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, said: "Building on the success of our Delhi – Central Asia routes, we are extremely pleased to announce direct flights to Almaty, Tashkent and Tbilisi from Mumbai, reinforcing our commitment to connecting India to the world. These routes will further enhance accessibility to these culturally rich destinations, fostering global connections and enriching tourism. At IndiGo, we anticipate the ever-evolving passenger needs and strive to offer seamless, direct, and reliable travel options.”

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IndiGo is set to enhance its international capacity to Central Asia with the launch of direct flights to three key destinations: Almaty, Tashkent, and Tbilisi.

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 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 12:41:30 +0000 eNethersole 70079 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero Qatar Airways to display special liveried 777-300ER during Paris Air Show http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/air-transport/qatar-airways-to-display-special-liveried-777-300er-during-paris-air-show

"We continue to make fundamental changes across Boeing to strengthen safety, quality and our culture, and we are seeing steady improvement in our performance," said Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg. "We look forward to connecting with our customers and partners at Le Bourget to demonstrate the work underway to restore trust and move Boeing forward."

Boeing will exhibit various commercial and defence capabilities, autonomous technologies and comprehensive services. The static displays will feature customer commercial jets and defence fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

Displays and Experiences

Qatar Airways will display its special liveried 777-300ER showcasing the Paris Saint-Germain team. The U.S. Department of Defense corral will feature a range of Boeing products including the C-17, CH-47, F-15, F/A-18, KC-46 and P-8.

Visitors to the Boeing Pavilion (C-2) will experience immersive and fully interactive product and technology displays spanning Boeing's portfolio, along with a full-size 777X interior section with its wider cabin and spacious architecture and the 777-8 Freighter Theater. A broad range of products and services will be highlighted, such as defence integrated and mission-critical capabilities, global parts resources, sustainment services, maintenance and training solutions, commercial airplane modification services and cutting-edge cabin interiors designs. The exhibit will also host the Boeing Cascade Climate Impact Model, a data-modeling and visualisation tool that assesses options to reduce aviation's footprint.

The adjoining Wisk Aero Pavilion will showcase its 6th generation all-electric, autonomous passenger aircraft. Visitors can explore the innovative design and technology behind this Advanced Air Mobility solution, reinforcing Wisk's leadership in the market.

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Boeing said it will focus on advancing innovation, partnerships and collaboration at the 2025 Paris Air Show.

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 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:04:11 +0000 eNethersole 70077 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines activate codeshare agreement http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/air-transport/etihad-and-ethiopian-airlines-activate-codeshare-agreement

The bilateral partnership enhances global travel opportunities for guests, with seats available to book now. Ethiopian will start services from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH) on 15 July, and Etihad Airways introducing daily flights to Addis Ababa starting 8 October.

This is the first step ahead of implementation of the groundbreaking Joint Venture agreed between Etihad and Ethiopian in March 2025 unlocking greater travel opportunities for passengers across both networks.

The codeshare lets guests simplify their journeys by making a single booking with one check-in process at the start and the added convenience of having their baggage transferred to their final destination.

Arik De, Etihad’s chief revenue and commercial officer said: “By leveraging our combined networks, we are unlocking seamless travel opportunities between Africa and Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. Easy connections via Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa, will enhance flexibility, boosting trade and tourism, and delivering unparalleled travel experiences to guests of both airlines."

Under this partnership, Etihad passengers will gain access to Ethiopian Airlines' extensive African network, with connections via Addis Ababa to 55 destinations across 33 countries, including Entebbe, Kinshasa, Kigali, Lusaka, Harare and Victoria Falls expanding their travel options across the continent.

At the same time, Ethiopian Airlines passengers can book itineraries connecting to Etihad-operated flights through Abu Dhabi, with onward service to 20 key destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East including Sydney, Krabi, Colombo and Phnom Penh.

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Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines have activated their codeshare agreement, strengthening connectivity between Africa and Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

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 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:54:04 +0000 eNethersole 70073 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero Corsair consolidation underpins growth plan http://www.timesaerospace.aero/features/air-transport/corsair-consolidation-underpins-growth-plan
Air transport

Corsair consolidation underpins growth plan

IMAGE: Airbus - Jean Vincent Reymondon

Corsair has unveiled its new development strategy and a positive financial performance in 2024. The airline is refocusing on its three pillars: the West Indies, the Indian Ocean and Africa. According to Pascal de Izaguirre, CEO of Corsair, "2025 will be a year of consolidation".

Corsair completed its fleet renewal plan at the beginning of the year with the delivery of its ninth and last Airbus A330neo. The new aircraft made its inaugural flight between Paris-Orly and Cotonou in Benin.

According to the airline’s CEO, this ambitious project, launched in 2020, was brought to completion on time despite the challenges facing the global supply chain. Pascal de Izaguirre pointed out that: "This modernisation reflects our commitment to offer a high-quality product, always at competitive prices" alongside a more environmentally-friendly flight experience.

Corsair is committed to energy transition through fleet renewal and commonality especially with the Airbus A330neo, which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat by 25 per cent, and noise footprint by 60 per cent.

The new fleet will support its newly-defined route development plan after reassessing its network efficiency and profitability amidst a competitive environment. Corsair will connect the capital of Republic of Congo Brazzaville in Q2 2025.

The airline also announced that it will stop its transatlantic Paris-Montreal route next summer to "refocus on its three pillars: the West Indies, the Indian Ocean and Africa". According to Corsair this closure after two decades is due to "a change in strategy" in the wake of an overall restructuring and repositioning plan to address new challenges.

After six years in the red, Corsair announced positive financial results for the 2023/2024 financial year, with an operating profit of €3m (US$3.25m), +€40.1m (US$43.5m) compared with the previous year. Its revenue increased by nine per cent to €701m (US$759.7m). It has recorded a strong growth in freight (+17 per cent) and ancillary revenues (+43 per cent), as well as an increase in the number of passengers carried, exceeding 1,400,000 people.

Pascal de Izaguirre told the press that these financial results obtained after rigorous cost management show "the solidity of our strategy and the unwavering commitment of our teams".

Corsair is embarked on a new era of growth. The airline aims to restore its place in its traditional markets while flying to new destinations. Let’s see how it adapts to evolving passenger preferences and new market dynamics.

Anuradha Deenapanray

Anuradha Deenapanray

Anuradha is a francophone editor for African and Arabian Aerospace magazines.

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 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:45:37 +0000 pIvanova 70072 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero KlasJet signs ACMI agreement with Air Cairo http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/business-aviation/klasjet-signs-acmi-agreement-with-air-cairo

The agreement sees KlasJet operate charter flights for Air Cairo taking holidaymakers from Milan (Italy) and Sharjah (UAE) to Cairo (Egypt). The contract started on 30th May 2025 and will run until 31st October.

Air Cairo was founded in 2003 and is partly owned by EgyptAir, Egypt's state-owned national airline. The carrier currently operates more than 30 aircraft, mostly A320s, and its main business focus is charter flights from Europe to Egypt's most popular holiday destinations.

KlasJet became the very first ACMI provider based in an EASA-regulated country working with Air Cairo. Despite the differences in procedures and regulations, KlasJet secured a three-day turnaround from signing the agreement to the ferry flight to Cairo on May 30th.

"We have been able to get alignment on all operational and crew-related topics thanks to the flexible and proactive approach of our team – who flew out to Cairo to ensure everything progressed smoothly – and the strong commitment on both sides to clear communication and a partnership-based approach," said Vytautas Mikuckas, Head of Wet Lease Department at KlasJet.

The partnership between Air Cairo and KlasJet is helping meet an upsurge in tourism. In the period from July to September last year, tourism revenue hit $4.8 billion, a significant uplift for Africa’s second-largest economy. 

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Corporate jet charter company KlasJet has signed an agreement with Air Cairo to provide chartered flights this summer.

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 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:56:31 +0000 eNethersole 70070 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero Emirates SkyCargo bolsters its connectivity http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/air-transport/emirates-skycargo-bolsters-its-connectivity

Anticipated commodities from Milan, include fashion and pharmaceuticals, as well as general cargo.

The current weekly freighter connecting Dubai World Central (DWC), Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) and Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ), will now receive an additional stop in Beirut (BEY) before returning to Dubai, enhancing connectivity to the Levant. Serving as a feeder gateway to and from Western European markets, Maastricht is one of the region’s busiest cargo hubs, particularly for general cargo and pharmaceuticals, both of which Emirates SkyCargo expects to transport to Beirut in large volumes. Likewise, Zaragoza Airport boasts excellent road and rail connectivity with Spain’s main economic and industrial, and handles significant volumes of fashion and apparel, which will now move to Beirut more directly.

Badr Abbas, divisional senior vice president, Emirates SkyCargo said: “Harnessing the power and connectivity of Emirates’ global network, a fleet over 260 passenger and freighter aircraft, and a multi-vertical portfolio of specialist logistics solutions, we have the scale and flexibility to keep trade flowing, even in the face of market instability. 

“As we receive our new Boeing 777 freighters, we are deploying them quickly and strategically to serve the unwavering demand across our network. Whether by layering on frequencies or adding new route stops, we will continue to evolve our operations, schedule and network in line with global trade patterns, to ensure we provide an unbeatable service to our customers.” 

Emirates SkyCargo freighters serve more destinations in Europe than any other region on its vast global network, including two cargo-only destinations, and is complemented by passenger operations to 40 destinations. The high-frequency flight scheduled, comprised of 45 freighter flights and 545 passenger flights every week, ensures that goods from Europe move seamlessly and at speed across the globe. 

In the last financial year, Emirates SkyCargo uplifted an average of 6,900 tonnes from Europe every week, strengthening international trade lanes with the movement of pharmaceuticals from Denmark and Belgium, perishables such as fresh salmon from Norway and whisky from Glasgow, valuables from Geneva, automotive shipments from Frankfurt and, of course, general cargo from every destination. 43% of the volume was transported to the UAE and Middle East, and a further 32% was carried to the Far East and Australasia, highlighting Emirates SkyCargo’s vital role as a bridge between European manufacturers, traders and exporters with businesses all over the world.

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Emirates SkyCargo plans to deploy an additional two weekly charter freighters enhancing the connectivity between Milan and Southeast China, via Dubai, starting Q3 2025.

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 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:48:43 +0000 eNethersole 70069 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero Tanzania added to the EU Air Safety List due to lack of safety standards http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/atm-and-regulatory/tanzania-added-to-the-eu-air-safety-list-due-to-lack-of-safety-standards

Suriname in South America has also been added to the list.

The European Union said the decision is based on serious safety concerns identified during assessments conducted by European Union aviation safety experts. They revealed that civil aviation authorities in these countries are unable to ensure compliance with international safety standards for air carriers. For Suriname and Tanzania, the identified safety shortcomings cover both operational and regulatory areas. These include a shortage of qualified personnel, ineffective oversight processes in flight operations and airworthiness, and non-compliance with international safety standards by both countries' civil aviation authorities and certified air carriers.

Following the update, a total of 169 airlines are banned from EU skies:

142 airlines certified in 17 States (Afghanistan, Angola (with the exception of 2 airlines), Armenia, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, and Tanzania), due to inadequate safety oversight by the aviation authorities from these States;

22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as five individual airlines from other States, based on serious safety deficiencies identified: Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran), Fly Baghdad (Iraq) and Iraqi Airways (Iraq).

Two additional airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Iran Air (Iran) and Air Koryo (Democratic People's Republic of Korea).

Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said: "Passenger safety remains our top priority. Following a detailed technical assessment, the European Commission has added all air carriers certified in Suriname and Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List due to serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight. We urge both countries to address these issues promptly. The Commission stands ready to support their efforts toward full compliance with international safety standards."

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The European Commission has added Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List - the list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union because they do not meet international safety standards.

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 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:35:00 +0000 eNethersole 70068 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero Ethiopian Airlines celebrates 50 years of service to Kigali http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/route-planning-and-tourism/ethiopian-airlines-celebrates-50-years-of-service-to-kigali

Since launching the Addis Ababa–Kigali route in 1975, the airline has played a pivotal role in strengthening diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between Ethiopia and Rwanda, while serving as a vital link connecting the two nations and beyond.

Group CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele, said: “We are excited to reach such a milestone. Over 50 years of service to Kigali, we have expanded both our passenger and cargo operations, with increased frequencies for the benefit of our customers. This marks another demonstration of Ethiopian Airlines' commitment to serving the people of Africa.”

Ethiopian Airlines operates 21 weekly passenger flights and three dedicated cargo services to Kigali, offering seamless connections to its extensive global network of over 145 destinations across five continents.

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Ethiopian Airlines has marked the 50th anniversary of its inaugural flight to Kigali, Rwanda.

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 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:21:53 +0000 eNethersole 70067 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero IndiGo’s grounded aircraft will continue to decrease, CEO says http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/air-transport/indigos-grounded-aircraft-will-continue-to-decrease-ceo-says

The carrier’s aircraft on ground (AOG) total has now dropped to the mid-40s, down from a high point in the mid-70s about a year ago, Aviation Week reports. Elbers notes there has not been an “exact linear [progression]” in AOG numbers, although a further decrease is likely.

Like many airlines around the world, IndiGo has had to ground many of its Airbus A320neo-family aircraft because of lengthy waits for maintenance checks on Pratt geared turbofan (GTF) engines.

The AOG total has reduced slowly, Elbers says. “We would have liked it to be faster, but it has at least been a continued decline,” Elbers said.

“Whether that’s going to [proceed] at the same pace, or whether it may slow down a little bit, remains to be seen,” Elbers said. But the rate “should not deviate too much from what we have seen so far.”

IndiGo focuses more on meeting its capacity growth plans rather than on AOG numbers, Elbers said. By leasing additional aircraft and inducting new deliveries, the carrier has been able to exceed its capacity expansion targets.

The carrier is taking delivery of an average of one new A320neo-family aircraft each week with nearly 900 remaining on order.

IndiGo has seen similar levels of new aircraft delivery delays as other carriers, Elbers said. However, he noted that the airline is not complaining vociferously.

“I’m sure [Airbus] want to deliver the aircraft, and if they can’t ... I will have a discussion with them, but by shouting that they should have delivered more, the reality won’t change,” Elbers said.

The carrier’s high volume of deliveries helps offset the delays, Elbers said. He noted that airlines with fewer orders or more infrequent deliveries would be harder hit by delays than IndiGo.

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IndiGo expects to see a steady decline in the number of its narrowbodies grounded due to Pratt & Whitney engine availability issues, CEO Pieter Elbers says.

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 Sun, 08 Jun 2025 11:20:42 +0000 eNethersole 70066 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero Air India scales up services to Bangkok, Colombo, and Kathmandu http://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/route-planning-and-tourism/air-india-scales-up-services-to-bangkok-colombo-and-kathmandu

Effective 07 July 2025, Air India will add:

A sixth daily flight between Delhi and Kathmandu, increasing frequency from 35x weekly to 42x weekly.

A second daily flight between Delhi and Colombo, doubling frequency on the route from 7x weekly to 14x weekly.

A third daily flight between Mumbai and Bangkok, increasing frequency from 13x weekly to 18x weekly.

The expansion leads to the addition of over 7,000 seats deployed to and from Bangkok, Colombo, and Kathmandu.

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Air India has added more flights to Bangkok, Colombo, and Kathmandu, to meet the growing passenger demand.

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 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:12:26 +0000 eNethersole 70065 at http://www.timesaerospace.aero