Latest news with #A320
Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Times
This new plane feels like a private jet — without the price tag
The Airbus A320 family of aircraft — including the A318, A319, A320, and A321 — is the most successful in the world. These small short-haul workhorses, with a single aisle and two engines, fly in almost every continent. There are nearly 12,000 of them in the sky and if you've ever taken an easyJet flight, you'll have boarded one. Although the layout of these ubiquitous jets has not changed since the first plane took to 33,000ft in 1984, there has been some innovation. Since last year a handful of airlines has bought the A321LR (long range) and XLR (extra long range) types, which can fly for up to about 11 hours, a feat previously unthinkable for this narrow-bodied jet. The introduction of the LR and XLR types also means that premium airlines can offer passengers on smaller aircraft the wide-body experience, for example lie-flat beds and luxury amenities. But one carrier known for its posh planes wanted to take the opportunity a step further and 'introduce long-haul luxury to short-haul flights', and so Etihad has installed first-class suites on board — the only carrier to do so. I wanted to see if first class on board a plane beloved by budget airlines was as odd as it sounded. And last week I was granted special behind-the-scenes access to board the delivery flight of Etihad's new A321LR, from the Airbus factory in Hamburg to its base in Abu Dhabi, before it was rolled out to passengers. My first thought upon boarding the aircraft for the sevenish-hour flight (about the upper limit for the A321LR) was that it feels like a private aircraft — it's the only one configured with two first-class suites. The suites, 1A and 1F, have sliding doors and extra seating space, while flying in one of the 14 business-class seats will get you lie-flat beds, a window and direct access to the aisle. Down the back are 144 economy seats that all feel spacious, with 30in between one headrest and the next, and there's good mood lighting. I'm flying in business class which, thanks to the exclusive feel and attentive crew, feels like the closest you can get to the cosiness of your own jet without the price tag. The herringbone layout means you're never staring at your neighbour, and it's great that each seat has a window, plus large 4K screens with more than a thousand hours of films, TV and games to entertain. • The best business class, first class and premium economy cabins Passengers love the spaciousness of the double-decker Airbus A380, but I like how snug this aircraft feels – big isn't always beautiful, and a smaller plane means we can disembark quickly, with our luggage returned just as swiftly. The loo is in black marble with a shiny wood effect and comes with ESPA goodies (very Abu Dhabi). My only complaint is that the single aisle gets busy with passengers and cabin crew trying to squeeze past each other. Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad's chief executive, says that the new aircraft 'changes everything we thought possible on a single-aisle plane', adding that it will 'redefine luxury in a narrow body'. 'The crew tell me they love the plane — it's a symbol of innovation and evolution,' he says. The A321LR will transport paying passengers for the first time on Friday, from Abu Dhabi to Phuket. Etihad is planning to fly it on 15 other routes this year and next, including to Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Hanoi, all from the Emirati capital. Some routes, such as that to Calcutta in India, are as short as five hours. Previously these cities would have been served by a larger aircraft such as a Boeing 777. However, this new plane won't be much use if you're flying from London to Abu Dhabi — that route will likely continue to be an A380 jumbo. • Read our full guide to Abu Dhabi For an airline, the long-range narrow bodies allow it to expand into and experiment with new destinations that aren't popular enough to be served by a larger aircraft, and to provide more frequent flights on popular routes. For passengers, these planes are modern, efficient and ultra-comfortable, much like private jets, the use of which has increased exponentially since the pandemic. Etihad, a rival to fellow Gulf mega-connectors Emirates and Qatar, has ordered 20 of these aircraft as part of a major growth spurt; Neves calls the A321LR 'the backbone of our growth'. So far this year the carrier has announced or launched 27 new routes, and is on course to carry more than 20 million passengers to and from its high-tech Gulf hub in 2025. By doubling the fleet, it hopes to fly 38 million Brits via Abu Dhabi by 2030 — an aggressive expansion plan that will open up more destinations across Africa, Asia or even Australasia. As we touch down to cheers at the private Abu Dhabi terminal, I come to the conclusion that after 20 years flying in A320s with budget airlines, this experience of flying in luxury business class in a small plane feels as weird as it sounds, but I love the homeliness of it. Unfortunately my next flight is on a regular A320 and down the back — in Adams was a guest of Etihad Airways, which has one-way London to Phuket first-class fares, with the Abu Dhabi-Phuket leg onboard the A321LR, from £2,509pp (
The Print
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
IndiGo Q1 profit skids 20 pc to Rs 2,176 cr; sees 12 pc passenger growth
In the first quarter of the current fiscal, total income climbed 6.4 per cent to Rs 21,542.6 crore. In the year-ago period, the same stood at Rs 20,248.9 crore. InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo which had a domestic market share of 64.5 per cent in June, posted a profit after tax of Rs 2,728.8 crore in the year-ago period. New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) The country's largest airline IndiGo on Wednesday reported a 20 per cent decline in profit after tax at Rs 2,176.3 crore for the June quarter as airspace curbs and overall challenging operating environment crimped its bottom line even as the carrier flew 12 per cent more passengers during the period. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the June quarter was shaped by significant external challenges that created headwinds for the entire aviation sector. 'Despite these industry wide disruptions, we reported a net profit of Rs 21,763 million with a net profit margin of around 11 per cent for the quarter ended June 2025. 'While the revenue environment saw moderation, demand for air travel held strong as we served more than 31 million passengers during the quarter, reflecting a growth of around 12 per cent on a year-over-year basis,' he said in a release. The airline's total expenses shot up 10.2 per cent to Rs 19,231.9 crore in the three months ended June even as fuel cost dropped 9.1 per cent to Rs 5,832.6 crore during the same period. 'For the quarter, our passenger ticket revenues were Rs 177,917 million, an increase of 7.8 per cent and ancillary revenues were Rs 21,534 million, an increase of 22.1 per cent compared to the same period last year,' the release said. However, yield decreased 5 per cent to Rs 4.98 and load factor dropped to 84.6 per cent in the latest June quarter. During a virtual interaction with journalists post results, Elbers said the situation with respect to grounded aircraft has improved and the Aircraft on Ground (AOG) is now in the range of '40s'. With the improvement in AOG, he said the airline has reduced some of the aircraft leases which has helped from a financial perspective. While responding to a query, Elbers said the results would have been better without the airspace curbs. There has been an impact on the results, he noted. In the wake of the India-Pakistan conflict, there are airspace restrictions and as a result, the airline has suspended flights to two destinations in Central Asia while some of the flights are taking longer time. In the second quarter of 2025-26, IndiGo expects capacity in terms of ASKs (Available Seat Kilometre) to increase by mid to high single digit as compared to the year-ago period. At the end of the June quarter, IndiGo had a fleet of 416 planes, including A320 ceos, neos, A321 neos, ATRs, A321 freighters, B777s, B737s and B787. There was a 'net decrease of 18 passenger aircraft during the quarter,' the release said. Meanwhile, IndiGo will fly 6 times per week between Mumbai and Amsterdam, and the services will be made daily from October 13. Currently, the airline operates three weekly flights from Mumbai to Amsterdam with a leased Boeing 787 aircraft from Norway's Norse Atlantic. IndiGo will get the second leased Boeing 787 plane from Norse Atlantic in September. Also, there will be four weekly services between Mumbai and Manchester from September 22 as compared to three weekly flights now. IndiGo's services to Amsterdam and Manchester commenced this month. PTI RAM ANU ANU This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
News18
7 hours ago
- Business
- News18
IndiGo Q1 profit skids 20 pc to Rs 2,176 cr; sees 12 pc passenger growth
New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) The country's largest airline IndiGo on Wednesday reported a 20 per cent decline in profit after tax at Rs 2,176.3 crore for the June quarter as airspace curbs and overall challenging operating environment crimped its bottom line even as the carrier flew 12 per cent more passengers during the period. InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo which had a domestic market share of 64.5 per cent in June, posted a profit after tax of Rs 2,728.8 crore in the year-ago period. In the first quarter of the current fiscal, total income climbed 6.4 per cent to Rs 21,542.6 crore. In the year-ago period, the same stood at Rs 20,248.9 crore. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the June quarter was shaped by significant external challenges that created headwinds for the entire aviation sector. 'Despite these industry wide disruptions, we reported a net profit of Rs 21,763 million with a net profit margin of around 11 per cent for the quarter ended June 2025. 'While the revenue environment saw moderation, demand for air travel held strong as we served more than 31 million passengers during the quarter, reflecting a growth of around 12 per cent on a year-over-year basis," he said in a release. The airline's total expenses shot up 10.2 per cent to Rs 19,231.9 crore in the three months ended June even as fuel cost dropped 9.1 per cent to Rs 5,832.6 crore during the same period. 'For the quarter, our passenger ticket revenues were Rs 177,917 million, an increase of 7.8 per cent and ancillary revenues were Rs 21,534 million, an increase of 22.1 per cent compared to the same period last year," the release said. However, yield decreased 5 per cent to Rs 4.98 and load factor dropped to 84.6 per cent in the latest June quarter. During a virtual interaction with journalists post results, Elbers said the situation with respect to grounded aircraft has improved and the Aircraft on Ground (AOG) is now in the range of '40s". With the improvement in AOG, he said the airline has reduced some of the aircraft leases which has helped from a financial perspective. While responding to a query, Elbers said the results would have been better without the airspace curbs. There has been an impact on the results, he noted. In the wake of the India-Pakistan conflict, there are airspace restrictions and as a result, the airline has suspended flights to two destinations in Central Asia while some of the flights are taking longer time. In the second quarter of 2025-26, IndiGo expects capacity in terms of ASKs (Available Seat Kilometre) to increase by mid to high single digit as compared to the year-ago period. At the end of the June quarter, IndiGo had a fleet of 416 planes, including A320 ceos, neos, A321 neos, ATRs, A321 freighters, B777s, B737s and B787. There was a 'net decrease of 18 passenger aircraft during the quarter," the release said. Meanwhile, IndiGo will fly 6 times per week between Mumbai and Amsterdam, and the services will be made daily from October 13. Currently, the airline operates three weekly flights from Mumbai to Amsterdam with a leased Boeing 787 aircraft from Norway's Norse Atlantic. IndiGo will get the second leased Boeing 787 plane from Norse Atlantic in September. Also, there will be four weekly services between Mumbai and Manchester from September 22 as compared to three weekly flights now. IndiGo's services to Amsterdam and Manchester commenced this month. PTI RAM ANU ANU view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 18:45 IST News agency-feeds IndiGo Q1 profit skids 20 pc to Rs 2,176 cr; sees 12 pc passenger growth Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Pilot shares advice on which seats to book to lower turbulence effects
A pilot has shared a simple method that can make turbulence feel less intense for passengers - but it's not always possible A pilot has revealed a possible solution for passengers terrified of turbulence. The aviation professional shared footage from an A320 simulator and revealed a technique that makes turbulence feel far less severe during a flight - if you plan ahead. Savina Paül, who goes by @savinapauls on TikTok, urged travellers to "choose your seat carefully," noting that "the closer you are to the aircraft's centre of gravity, the better." This, she explains, can dramatically "change your perception of movement" whilst airborne, reports the Express. She posed a question to her followers, asking: "Did you know that a plane moves more or less depending on where you sit? Yes, sitting at the tail is not the same as sitting near the cockpit. "On commercial aircraft, the centre of gravity is not exactly in the middle of the plane. It's actually a bit further forward, close to the wing area." Breaking down what the centre of gravity means, she went on: "It's the point around which the aircraft rotates whenever there is any movement, including turbulence. Imagine a ruler balanced on your finger, but your finger is closer to one end than the other. If you move the far end of the ruler, it will always move much more than the end near your finger. "The same thing happens on a plane: the further away you are from the centre of gravity, the more you'll notice any movement. Conversely, the closer you are to this point, the less you'll feel it. For example, from the cockpit, which is closer to this point, sometimes we don't even notice turbulence. Meanwhile, our colleagues at the back of the plane alert us because they feel much more movement." If you're someone who worries about turbulence, despite knowing it's a routine aspect of air travel, the pilot encourages you to attempt her approach for a calm journey - if you can select your seats, of course. Should you do this, you'll experience turbulence "much less." She concluded: "Remember, even if there's movement, the plane continues to fly safely." What causes turbulence? Turbulence is a common atmospheric condition that refers to irregular movements of air that lead to sudden shifts in an aircraft's altitude or orientation, according to the Flightradar24 Blog. There are a variety of turbulence types that all depend on where you're flying to, when, and what you are flying over such as mountains. The flight website said: "Whilst turbulence can feel unsettling, especially to nervous flyers, it is important to emphasise that severe turbulence events are generally quite rare. Pilots carry out an extensive weather brief before a flight which identifies areas of known turbulence en-route, which are avoided if possible."
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Minister Nara Lokesh urges Airbus to set up MRO hub in Andhra to boost operations
VIJAYAWADA: HRD, IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh met Airbus Asia Pacific President Anand Stanley in Singapore to explore collaboration opportunities for establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub in the State. During the meeting, Lokesh highlighted the growing demand for aviation services in India and neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Southeast Asian markets. He noted that India, where more than 850 Airbus aircraft are in operation, represents a major captive market for MRO services. Lokesh pitched Andhra Pradesh as an ideal location for a dedicated Airbus MRO hub in South Asia. India is Airbus's fastest-growing market, with projections estimating a need for 1,750 aircraft over the next two decades. Narrow-body A320 family aircraft, which constitute 65–70% of India's fleet, will drive this growth. He said the proposed facility would cut ferry times and operational costs for Indian airlines while improving aircraft availability. It could also cater to regional airlines from neighbouring countries. He assured Airbus that the State is ready to develop a full-fledged MRO ecosystem aligned with global standards. He invited Airbus officials to visit Andhra Pradesh and assess the infrastructure firsthand.
