Cleared To Approach: The Aviation Blog

  NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK: IndiGo Reports Decline in Q3 Profit Due to Forex Losses InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo, announced an 18.6% decrease in net profit for the third quarter ending December 31, 2024.  The profit fell to ₹2,448.80 crore from ₹2,998 crore in the same period the previous year. This decline is primarily attributed to a significant foreign exchange loss of ₹1,456.4 crore, stemming from the depreciation of the Indian rupee.  Despite steady air travel demand and lower fuel costs, overall expenses increased by 20%.  Excluding forex losses, the airline's profits saw a 26% rise. Passenger yields decreased by 1%, while revenue grew by 13.7% to ₹22,110.70 crore. IndiGo also reported a 12% increase in available seat kilometers (ASK) and anticipates a 20% year-on-year growth in ASK for the January-March period. Emirates A380 Makes Emergency Landing in Bengaluru On January 24, 2025, an Emirates Airline Airbus A380, operating flight EK342 from Dub...

  NOTICE: For the next month and a half, expect weekly news debriefs and not too many additional posts as I have exams and a shortage of free time. NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK: DGCA Issues Warning to Akasa Air Over Regulatory Lapses: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued multiple warnings to Akasa Air for regulatory non-compliances.  On January 13, 2025, the DGCA warned the airline's accountable manager, Vinay Dube, citing incidents such as a hard landing and delayed revision of the operations manual.  Additionally, the DGCA identified violations in the handling of dangerous goods, including improper acceptance of electronic devices containing lithium batteries. Strikes Disrupt Flights in Belgium Nationwide strikes in Belgium have disrupted flights at Brussels Airport.  Aer Lingus has warned passengers to check flight updates as protests over pension reforms continue. Air New Zealand Named World's Safest Airline: AirlineRatings.com crowned Air New Ze...

  NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK: Pakistan Airlines Ad Displaying New Route to Paris Sparks 9/11 Conspiracy Theories: A PIA Ad has sparked controversy after being perceived as a threat similar to 9/11. The airline has resumed flights to Pairs after its EU ban was lifted. An ad with the caption, "Paris, we're coming today" displaying an aircraft flying towards the Eiffel Tower has been perceived as a threat by many. This is because of an earlier ad which showcased a PIA aircraft casting its shadows upon the Twin Towers, as if knowing what was to come in the 9/11 attacks. Akasa Air Pilots Unrest, Urge DGCA for Probe: Akasa Air Pilots wrote an Email to the Civil Aviation Minister, urging the DGCA to launch a probe. They alleged that the airline had issues in its hiring practices. They claim that the airline's operating crew faced problems with On-Time Performance. Pilots have been complaining about the airline for several months now. Air India Express Plane Strikes Bird During...

  This week not only do we get a news debrief, but also, a recap for aviation's progress in 2024. NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK: Japan Airlines retires the B777, operating its last flight to London. Air Kerala to start operating flights by mid-2025. 'Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam' has been taken into effect and replaced the Aircraft Act on the 1st of January. Air India introduces free-in-flight WiFi on domestic routes in India. This service can be availed on A350s, select A321-Neos, and B787-9. 2024 Aviation Recap: Air India was taken over by the Tata Group. It launched flights on brand new A350s, connecting major Indian cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai), as well as international destinations such as LHR and JFK. It, as well as the new A321-Neos, features fresh business, premium economy, and economy-class cabins. The carrier is also revamping old aircraft. On the 12th of November 2024, Vistara, a full-service carrier owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlin...