Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Dec 15, 2013 As temperatures hit minus 15deg C at Astana, warm smiles and generosity filled the air in typical Kazakh fashion. Peter Foster, President of Air Astana was a happy man as he took delivery of the last two 767s in his fleet, which have apparently served him well, as the aircraft reaches the final phase of production. Meanwhile, plans for fleet upgradation has Boeing, Embraer and Airbus upping antics to sell aircraft that will meet the carrier’s range and seat expectations. Air Astana is increasing its 5 weekly flights to a daily starting Dec 16 to Delhi. For those in a nostalgic mood to bring back the magic of flying, I would strongly suggest you try Air Astana. And no, this space has not been paid for! I have to confess it feels decadently sinful (if there is such a word!). For those wanting to bring in a white Xmas and new year, now might be just the time. Even the airports n Kazakhstan are all dressed up for Christmas celebrated on Jan 1. Add ...

What is Mittu thinking? (pix-neelam mathews) Neelam Mathews June 3, 2013 These days, when Tony Fernandes speaks, he makes news. Suspect the quiet guy sitting next to him in a suit, his new CEO for India, Mittu Chandilya, isn't as silent as he seems. Tony promises Mittu will have fewer hair on his head in a few years if he does things right! Given the challenges ahead, we suspect it'll take less than that. Add to that a red cap and t-shirt ofcourse! Of the the little we have heard, Mittu is working overtime to start India operations, we are told, will start in October. We are also hearing, the AA India Chennai hub has a few issues that need to sorted out. But Tony has clearly said he has no complaints about bureaucracy in India. For his sake and the sake of Indian aviation going through an upheaval at the moment, we hope he is right- particularly in the context of an impending change in the government.

Neelam Mathews April 26, 2013                        It’s a page from Arabian Nights. As Jet Airways rubbed the lamp, out came the genie with Etihad! And now if Aladdin – our very own Jet- plays its cards right, which we have no doubt it will, its going to be great going. Here at AerospaceDiary, we’re hearing Jet plans to announce an order for 200 Boeing 737 Max, t he new-engine variant, powered by CFM’s LEAP-1B engines said to reduce fuel burn , and 777s. We couldn’t confirm the figure for the wide-bodies. Also, we're hearing, but could not confirm, that the first of its ten ordered 787s (following some cancellations) may now be delivered end of December instead of 2014. Whether this order is scheduled for announcement at the Paris Air Show in June, we can only hazard a guess. And once Etihad gets its A380, we are likely to see it land in Jet colors- next...

Neelam Mathews March 9, 2013 At a recent IACC summit on March 6, a question I put to the DGCA, Arun Mishra  on what it would take to make Kingfisher Airlines fly again, had an immediate reply: “He (Vijay Mallya) must pay people their salaries.” Though it was essential he cleared his dues, he said. He added a postscipt: “However, KFA need not pay ALL the dues…” Which was news. AerospaceDiary learns that Sanjay Agarwal, CEO, KFA who was to have left the airline on Feb 28, and has now decided to stay on, when he met ministry officials on March 7, was assured KFA- anxious to start operations- could apply for its NSOP next week. However, how the recent decision by the Supreme Court dismissing the TDS appeal, will affect this decision has to be seen. AerospaceDiary could not confirm any of the above and sources were unwilling to be quoted. We also hear KFA is getting NOCs from airports, oil companies and banks to enable it to fly again. However, Mallya's ACJ remains grounded...

Neelam Mathews Feb 24, 2013   Before the rumor mill goes amuck, we at AerospaceDiary learn from a pretty reliable source that the new CEO of AirAsia India (I like the sound of that!) will not be from the airline industry. Again, we cannot confirm this and just reporting a strong tailwind. However, we do know from past history of the airline, there were few airline-associated top guys, starting with founder,Tony Fernandes, who refers to himself as a ‘dreamer’ in his twitter profile, while Azran, the CEO of AirAsia X calls himself a “madhatter running AirAsiaX, or sometimes just running aimlessly. Outdoor freak.or sometimes just freaking out randomly. On a plane!” Azran in Paris It is becoming increasingly clear the new guy will also be out of the aviation space, bringing in fresh ideas while the Tatas strive tirelessly with the regulator making it possible for Tony's dream to become a reality.

Neelam Mathews Feb 23, 2013 Hi guys- its just a buzz- nothing confirmed, nothing reported. Expect to hear many more rumors in coming days! We hear Sanjay Agarwal of Kingfisher Airlines whose last day at KFA is Feb 28, will be Air Asia India's CEO. W ord has it that he is taking people from his old airline SpiceJet along with him. Many say it is interesting that AirAsia should pick up a legacy carrier's CEO that brings with him a five star cost structure. But then he was with SpiceJet too! Others say he knows the market and all its travails and how to survive to a point!  The fact is whoever the chief of this organisation is, will have to learn to get his hands dirty and multi-skill- the basis of AirAsia's success.

Neelam Mathews Jan 8, 2013 Virgin Atlantic Airways has today appointed Craig Kreeger as its new Chief Executive. He will assume the role on 1st February 2013. He joins from American Airlines (AA), where he has held a 27-year career spanning commercial, financial and strategic roles in the US and around the globe. Kreeger, 53, succeeds current CEO, Steve Ridgway, who is retiring from the airline. Steve has had a 23-year tenure with Virgin Atlantic and became Chief Executive in 2001. During his time at the airline, Virgin Atlantic has grown from two 747s to a fleet of 40 long haul aircraft, flying six million passengers a year all over the world. Kreeger joins at an exciting time for the airline as Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic finalise their agreement for a new joint venture that will create an expanded Trans-Atlantic network. This new venture will materially enhance competition between the UK and North America, offering great benefits for customers travelling on thos...

Neelam Mathews Jan 8, 2012 Air Costa static website. We dialled the number-was constantly engaged There is some buzz again on the start of the regional Vijaywada-based Air Costa owned by Lingamaneni Estates (LEPL), a company into real estate, construction and contracting business. AerospaceDiary could not confirm this. The company has been employing staff of ailing Kingfisher Airlines that include cabin attendants, station managers, Instructors for Inflight services, ground instructors etc. In Aug last year, it had advertised for Captains holding ALTP License with total flying experience of 4000 hours (Jet 2000 hours, 1000 hours of Glass Cockpit, 1000 hours as TIC). The airline has popped in and out of the news  in the past year. Its website is static. However, we do hear it might start with five CRJ-200s, or Q400s.We realise the seating numbers of the two are miles apart, but we're reporting the buzz!  The CEO Air Costa listed on the website is Captain K.N. Bab...

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012 Statement: Luc Vigneron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales, having acknowledged the absence of support of the Group's two main shareholders, tendered his resignation to the company's directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors on 20 December , and his resignation was accepted. At this same meeting, the Board of Directors co-opted Jean-Bernard Lévy as a director and subsequently elected him to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales. Thales's two main shareholders, the French State and the Dassault Aviation, welcome this appointment and will work in agreement with senior management to pursue the continued recovery of the Group and its future development.

Posted by-Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2012 The much discussed Etihad Airways, rumored to be picking upa stake in Jet Airways, is substantially increasing and upgrading flights to key cities in the Indian subcontinent. Starting from January 1, 2013 flights to the southern Indian city of Kozhikode will more than double, from 3 to seven a week. Colombo will also be serviced by daily flights when services  increase from four to seven per week starting from January 2, 2013.  James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and CEO  said: “India and Sri Lanka are important destinations for us due to strong local demand and growing traffic beyond Abu Dhabi to many key destinations across our global network. “Kozhikode and Colombo are fast growing cities that serve as major business and trade hubs with many of their inhabitants working in the Gulf region. We are confident that these additional flights will be immensely beneficial to them and will offer them more options to visit the...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Oct 11, 2012 CAPA AeroPark today announced details of a series of 3-day international executive programs for aviation professionals, to be held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on 1-3 November. Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia, CAPA, said: “CAPA AeroPark was established with a mission of bringing world class aviation education and training to fast growth emerging markets and we are proud to be launching this inaugural series of courses in conjunction with the leading global universities and executive training organisations. The preliminary marketing of the courses has already elicited a strong response not only from India, but from across South Asia, the Gulf, the Indian Ocean islands and even parts of Africa.” CAPAs courses are designed to achieve both professional development and personal growth. “It is important to us to develop practical formats designed to stimulate innovation, productivity and performance, critical attributes in these chall...

Neelam Mathews Oct 3, 2012 A meeting held with some 1000 Kingfisher Airlines employees in Mumbai ended some time ago with both sides - engineers and management- refusing to give in, Aerospace Diary learns. "It was inconsequential,"  an engineer told us. "The CEO has told us to wait for another three months till cash comes in," he said. It is believed the CEO Sanjay Aggarwal stalked out of the meeting. We could not confirm this. However, an official from the management told us on anonymity: "This is India..such things are bound to happen (no salaries for 7 months) . It will get sorted out once business plans are nailed." He also viewed the meeting with the CEO as "successful." "Looks like people will be back to work in 3-4 days," he added. Meanwhile, we are wondering what happens to the promise of Oct 4 made to the DGCA by the airline? Backgrounder:

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 27, 2012 Taiwan's UNI AIR, a regional subsidiary of EVA AIR, will be the first carrier in Asia to operate the ATR 72-600. It   is expected to officially enter into service on October 11th, with a first commercial domestic flight from Taipei to Taidong. With the introduction of its new fleet of 10 ATR 72-600s, UNI AIR will progressively replace its fleet of Dash 8 Q-300s turboprops. The ATR 72-600 received its EASA-certification in May 2011, becoming the world's most-recently certified 70-seat regional aircraft. Among other improvements, it features the most modern avionics suite, equipped with full-glass cockpit specifically developed for ATR by Thales, and totally redesigned cabin interiors, by Italian designer Giugiaro.    Filippo Bagnato, CEO of ATR, said: "The arrival of the very first ATR 72-600 in Asia is also a milestone for ATR. In the last years,.....We are pleased to strongly contribute to th...

                                                          Neelam Mathews                                                    Aug 15, 2012 AirAsia has promoted Logan Velaitham as AirAsia Singapore’s Chief Executive Officer. Logan was last posted to Singapore in May 2012 as Country Head of the Singapore operations, where he was responsible in expanding AirAsia’s presence in the island republic and Johor. Our Singapore operations, which servic...

Neelam Mathews March 8, 2012     Ailing Kingfisher Airlines is working hard to get some cash to pay for the security deposit for IATAs Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) for which the deadline is March 10, Aerospace Diary learns. If it is unable to meet the deadline, the carrier will be in a real hot soup as it can then no longer sell through agents (including online travel agents) that sell 70% of its inventory.   We also learn cash for fuel bought from HPCL will last only till tomorrow.   Kingfisher has already defaulted and been suspended for participation in the IATA Clearing House (ICH). “This is because the airline did not settle their ICH account within the stipulated deadline. Kingfisher's participation in the ICH will be reinstated after the airline fulfills the ICH requirements,” said an IATA spokesman.   ICH is for interlining payments clearances. This means now international carriers taking KFAs passengers to onward destinations will no longer offer ...

Neelam Mathews March 7, 2012 It will not be a very colorful holi for Kingfisher this year as Aerospace Diary learns Kingfisher Airlines has been suspended from the International Air Transport Association's Clearing House (ICH) payment system.  This has been confirmed to us by IATA spokesman, Albert Tjoeng who said : “IATA has suspended Kingfisher Airlines' participation in the IATA Clearing House (ICH). This is because the airline did not settle their ICH account within the stipulated deadline.Kingfisher's participation in the ICH will be reinstated after the airline fulfills the ICH requirements. Around a dozen more accounts too, have been frozen. Last month too, the carrier was suspended as it did not settle their ICH account within the due time. We learn that IATA had asked the carrier to pay an additional deposit for payments in future. We could not confirm if the ailing carrier was able to do so. “IATA does this to protect its member airlines,” said an off...

Posted by – Neelam Mathews Jan 26, 2012 EADS has announced its Board of Directors has designated Tom Enders to take over the role of CEO when Louis Gallois steps down at the end of his mandate. Concurrently, Arnaud Lagardère will assume the role of Chairman of the Board presently held by Bodo Uebber. This will take place after the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 31 May, 2012. These new mandates carry a five-year term. EADS CEO Louis Gallois stated: “Tom Enders not only has a wide range of experience across our businesses, but strong leadership skills and charisma with an established track record. I am sure that he will extend his vision for EADS in the best interest of all its stakeholders and in particular of the great community of employees working together across our nations.“ Other top management positions Following the recommendations of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, the Board also announces further evolutions of the management team effective...