Latest news with #A321s
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
PM Modi inaugurates projects worth ₹4,900 crore in Tamil Nadu
Along with the new terminal of Thoothukudi airport and the extended runway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (July 26, 2025) launched a few more completed projects on an outlay of ₹4,900 crore in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Since the Airports Authority of India wants to increase the number of passengers using Thoothukudi Airport to 20 lakh per annum in the next five to ten years and to increase Thoothukudi's air connectivity manifold by introducing flights to various parts of the country and abroad, the 17,340 square meter new terminal in Chettinad- style architecture has been created. The 1,350-meter-long runway has been extended to 3,115 meters with a night landing facility for handling wide-bodied aircraft, like A320s and A321s. Moreover, to ensure the hassle-free handling of the passengers, 21 check-in counters, 7 baggage scanners, 3 aerobridges, 644 seats, a feeding room for mothers, isolation areas, 5 aircraft parking bays, fully equipped fire station have been completed. After the expansion, the Thoothukudi airport can handle up to 1,400 passengers per hour, which stood at just 156 earlier, officials said. Another important project inaugurated by Mr. Modi on Saturday (July 26, 2025) was the 306-meter-long north cargo berthing facility with 14.20 metre draft at the cost of ₹285 crores at the VOC Port, Thoothukudi, which can handle larger vessels carrying coal, copper concentrate, limestone, gypsum and rock phosphate. This new berth is likely to create 300 direct employment and 500 indirect jobs. As of now, the all-weather VOC Port handles containers, coal, limestone, windmill turbine blades, fertilizer, edible oil, construction materials, timber, machinery, etc. The 4-lane Sethiyathoppu – Chozhapuram 50 km stretch has been completed at the cost of ₹2,357 crore, and the 4-lane road connecting the VOC Port, Thoothukudi, has been upgraded into a 6-lane at the cost of ₹200 crores to ensure the hassle-free movement of heavy trucks carrying containers, logs and bulk cargo like coal and fertilizers. The double railway track in Nagercoil Town – Nagercoil Junction – Kanniyakumari, Aralvaimozhi – Nagercoil Junction and Tirunelveli – Melapalayam sections were also dedicated to the nation on the occasion. The much-awaited Madurai – Bodi railway track electrification, which was taken up after this section was converted into broad gauge after decades of waiting, was also dedicated to the nation. All these rail projects have been completed on an outlay of ₹1,032 crores. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the ₹548 crore interstate transmission system to evacuate the 2,000 MW power to be generated by VVER reactors 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, being built with Russian assistance.
Arabian Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Air Arabia Reinitiates Sharjah–Damascus Flights
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Air Arabia has recommenced double daily non‑stop flights between Sharjah and Damascus from 10 July 2025, marking a pivotal renewal of air connectivity between the UAE and Syria. The low‑cost carrier's decision, following a suspension since 2012, responds to rising demand and broader regional diplomatic easing. The carrier's reinstated schedule includes two early departures from Sharjah at 04:15 and 10:45, landing in Damascus at 06:30 and 13:00, respectively. Return services depart Damascus at 07:30 and 14:00, arriving in Sharjah at approximately 11:40 and 18:10 local time. Utilising Airbus A320s and A321s, Air Arabia's fleet will provide in‑flight entertainment via 'SkyTime', on‑board dining through 'SkyCafe', and loyalty benefits under its 'Air Rewards' programme. ADVERTISEMENT During a launch ceremony at Sharjah International Airport, attendees included Adel Al Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia, and Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, indicating the route's strategic significance. A reception at Damascus International Airport featured UAE Ambassador Hasan Ahmed Mohammed Sulaiman Alshehhi and Syria's Chargé d'Affaires Ziad Yahya Zaher Edin. CEO Al Ali emphasised the route's importance in serving the substantial Syrian diaspora in the UAE, estimated at over 350,000 individuals, and facilitating enhanced travel for business, tourism, and family visits. He remarked, 'This route holds particular significance in serving the Syrian diaspora in the region and meeting the growing travel demand between the UAE and Syria.' The airline anticipates this service will bolster trade ties, with bilateral trade having reached US $680 million in 2024—a 23 percent increase over 2023. Air Arabia's restoring of direct flights aligns with a wider trend of regional airlines re‑engaging Syria. Emirates is scheduled to recommence services to Damascus from 16 July, expanding to daily flights by October. Flydubai resumed operations on 26 June. Additionally, national carrier Syrian Air has restarted several regional services since January, while Qatar Airways reinstated a Doha‑Damascus route in early January. Turkish budget airline Anadolu Jet launched flights from Istanbul and Ankara in April. Damascus International Airport itself underwent closure during an opposition offensive in December 2024, later reopening with limited commercial flights. Full international traffic resumed in January 2025, with renovation support from Turkey in February. The renewal of these services carries deeper geopolitical significance, reflecting a subtle shift in diplomatic engagement with Syria. In April, the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority formally lifted suspensions on flights to Syria, and UAE‑Syrian ministerial talks have since addressed aviation, banking, and consular matters. Travel agents and industry analysts have interpreted the move as a calculated expansion of Air Arabia's network, offering cost‑conscious alternatives to Gulf‑Europe‑Syria itineraries, especially for the UK and Europe‑based Syrian diaspora. The airline's fare structure and twice‑daily service are expected to attract both long‑standing diaspora links and emerging trade flows. Independent aviation analysts note that Air Arabia's streamlined operations, lean cost base, and digital platform—covering bookings via website, app, call centre, and travel agencies—are key competitive advantages. The company now serves more than 90 global destinations, including recent additions such as Sochi, Prague, and expansion within Russia and Europe. Despite the optimism, security concerns remain. Damascus Airport was only partially reopened in January, and while the civil aviation authority has announced upgrades, full operational stability depends on infrastructure restoration and geopolitical calm. Some observers caution that air travel to Syria may still face intermittent regulatory or safety challenges, advising prospective travellers to monitor advisories and airlines' updates closely. Nevertheless, the resumption of the Sharjah–Damascus route represents a turning point for mobility in the region. By restoring a decade‑long link, Air Arabia reinforces its position as a catalyst for regional integration and economic exchange, while filling a transport gap for displaced communities and traders across the Gulf.
New Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Taiwan's China Airlines to expand fleet with up to 13 Airbus jets
TAIPEI: Taiwan's China Airlines plans to acquire up to 13 new aircraft from aviation giant Airbus in a move to expand its fleet, the company said Wednesday. The airline's board have agreed to buy or lease eight Airbus A321neo and five Airbus A350-900 aircraft, according to two company announcements. China Airlines said the five A350-900s – used for long-haul flights – could be leased for a total of US$1.148 billion or bought for up to US$1.965 billion. The investment is aimed at supporting the airline's "long-term operational development and enhancing the flexibility and competitiveness in its global presence", it said. The eight short- to medium-haul A321s will help to meet "operational needs", it added. Five of them – valued at US$240 million – will be leased from the Air Lease Corporation for 10 to nearly 12 years. The remaining three A321s are still being negotiated. The airline also ordered 14 Boeing aircraft in May, with the option to buy another nine planes, after China backed out of a deal to buy Boeing planes due to US tariffs on Chinese products.
Mint
28-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Growth the single agenda, Air India Express defies the standard LCC model
In the second half of April, two A321s started operating for Air India Express, the low-cost arm of Air India. This could have been a routine deployment for any airline, except for Air India Express, the 108th aircraft in the fleet is a new type. With the induction of these two aircraft, the airline now has B737-800NG aircraft, the only type it had when it was privatised, the B737 MAX8 (part of the order placed by Air India group in 2023), A320ceo and A320neo, most of which it inherited from erstwhile AirAsia India, which merged with Air India Express. Some planes came from parent Air India, and now, the A321s also come from parent Air India. Low-cost carriers traditionally focus on having a single fleet type. This helps the airline keep costs low by having a single training requirement, the ability to swap planes and crew, and ensuring better On-Time Performance and operational efficiency. Additionally, it helps on the engineering and maintenance side by having to maintain spares for just one type of plane. Air India Express has always been under the shadow of its parent company, Air India. It was a government entity largely restricted to routes from the southern part of India to the Gulf. Cut to now, the airline has a sizable domestic presence, part of which it inherited from erstwhile AirAsia India, which merged into Air India Express, and some transferred from Air India. The airline's fleet now includes A321neo, A320neo, A320ceo, 737 MAX8 and 737NG, totalling a little over 100 planes. While it has been a traditional operator of 737NG and built capability for the 737 MAX8, it inherited the capability to maintain the A320 family from erstwhile AirAsia India and Air India. In the end, it boils down to accounting. As an unlisted entity, it may never be known how the airline handles internal transfers, finances and inventory management. The airline has been expanding rapidly. By May, it will be 1.5 times the size it was last May. The growth is more on the domestic routes, which will be nearly thrice in terms of capacity compared to last May. However, this growth comes with many ups and downs. The airline is growing rapidly on some holiday-centric routes like Delhi-Srinagar, Bengaluru-Goa and Tier II routes like Delhi-Ranchi, Bengaluru-Bhubaneswar, amongst others. However, it has also pulled out of routes like Chennai-Kolkata, Hyderabad-Amritsar, Delhi-Gwalior or Jaipur-Pune. A churn in routes is common when an airline grows as rapidly as Air India Express is. However, the airline can hope that this churn is handled well and does not create a negative impact on passengers. The airline has also been receiving flak for its On-Time Performance, with parent Air India often showing better punctuality. In its quest to add capacity, it has a livery conundrum. The legacy fleet features the old livery, with each side of the tail depicting a different scene from India. The MAX 8 have the new Air India Express livery depicting the art and culture imprints from different states of the country, it has a whole bunch of A320s which it inherited from erstwhile AirAsia India which are in Red livery without titles and it has old Air India livery planes with decals mentioning its operations for Air India Express. In a market constrained by capacity, it is only logical that the airline waits for a major check to take the aircraft out of service and plan the livery change, rather than taking it out twice. There are also many planes up for redelivery, and they may not be repainted at all. However, such multiple liveries never bode well for a customer-facing business, which is rather particular about its brand image. India has had two bankruptcies in the recent past, Jet Airways and Go FIRST, with a pandemic in between them. Growth has moderated from what it was ten years ago. For double-digit growth to return, the country needs capacity, but capacity induction can happen when there are slots at airports, which are hard to come by at most large airports in the country. Amidst this, the Air India group is pushing Air India Express, seemingly with a lower cost structure, to be the flag bearer of competition against IndiGo and fill the void left by carriers which collapsed. In the past, IndiGo used its superior financial numbers to push competition by dropping fares on competition-specific routes. However, Air India Express is coming in with a force which was not seen before, thus making it difficult to counter with the same strategies. As long as the battle helps the consumers, it will be a good battle in the industry where the two players are backed by large groups. First Published: 28 Apr 2025, 12:40 PM IST
