Latest news with #SukalpSharma
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
The fuel switches and the AI 171 crash: Key takeaways from the prelim report
The 15-page AAIB preliminary report of the investigation into the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI 171 stands out for being extremely detailed, with specific pointers to the potential causes of the accident. Preliminary reports are typically extremely sketchy and present bare bone facts, without typically getting into the actual causes of the accident. The key pointers in the AI 171 report: Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
3 routes suspended, reduced frequency on 18: Details of Air India's international flight curtailment plan
Air India on Thursday detailed the temporary curtailment plan for it wide-body international flights. A day earlier, the Tata group carrier had said that it would reduce international flights operated by long-range aircraft like Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 by 15 per cent till at least mid-July due to a combination of factors–enhanced safety inspections following last Thursday's deadly crash of one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft, and airspace restrictions in West Asia and night curfew at various European and East Asian airports. A number of Air India's wide-body international flights were hit by delays and cancellations over the past few days due to the combination of these factors. The Tata group airline announced the details of the curtailment plan, which include suspension of flights on three routes and reduction in flight frequency on 18 routes–five to North America, nine to Europe, and two each to Australia and East Asia. The schedule cuts will be implemented from June 21 and will continue at least till July 15 in most cases. 'The reductions arise from the decision to voluntary undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East. The objective is to restore schedule stability and minimizing last-minute inconvenience to passengers,' Air India said. The airline apologised to the passengers affected by these curtailments, adding that it is proactively contacting them to offer re-accommodation on alternative flights, complimentary rescheduling or full refunds as per their preference. Details of Air India's wide-body flights' curtailment Suspended routes till July 15 Routes with reduced frequency till July 15 North America Europe Australia East Asia Following last Thursday's tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had directed the airline to carry out additional maintenance inspections on all 33 of its 787s. The ill-fated aircraft was operating a flight between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick and had 242 people on board. All but one of those on board perished in the crash. There were several casualties on the ground as well. Air India said Wednesday that inspections had been completed on 26 of its Boeing 787 planes and they were cleared for service. On Tuesday, the DGCA had announced that no major safety concerns were found in the recent surveillance conducted on Air India's Boeing 787 aircraft, and the planes and associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards. As a 'confidence-building measure' Air India has decided to continue enhanced pre-flight safety checks on its Boeing 787 fleet and even its Boeing 777 aircraft, for the time being, which is one of the reasons why the airline is curtailing its wide-body flight schedule. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Air India says will cut wide-body international flights by 15% till mid-July
Tata group airline Air India is reducing its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent till at least mid-July due to a combination of factors. These include enhanced safety inspections of its aircraft following last Thursday's deadly crash of one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft, and airspace restrictions in West Asia and night curfew at various European and East Asian airports, the carrier said Wednesday. A number of Air India's international flights were hit by delays and cancellations over the past few days. The cuts will be implemented by June 20 and will continue at least till the middle of July. The curtailment would effectively add to Air India's reserve aircraft availability 'to take care of any unplanned disruptions'. 'Given the compounding circumstances that Air India is facing, to ensure stability of our operations, better efficiency and to minimise inconvenience to passengers, Air India has decided to reduce its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15% for the next few weeks,' it said. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Ahmedabad crash aftermath: Eight of Air India's 33 Boeing 787 planes have been inspected so far, says Aviation Minister Naidu
Eight of Air India's 33 Boeing 787 aircraft have so far been inspected following the directive issued Friday by aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for enhanced safety inspection of the aircraft type, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said Saturday. The minister, however, did not elaborate further on the checks. A senior government official told The Indian Express that the inspections so far have not revealed any issue or adverse observation. The DGCA's directive had come a day after an Air India 787-8 aircraft crashed moments after take-off from the Ahemdabad airport. The aircraft was operating a flight between Ahemdabad and London Gatwick and had 242 people on board. All but one of those on board perished in the crash. There were several casualties on the ground as well. 'As a preventive measure DGCA, hereby direct M/S Air India to carry out following additional maintenance actions on B787-8/9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines with immediate effect in coordination with the concerned regional DGCA offices,' the DGCA order said, listing a number of technical checks. Air India had a total of 34 Boeing 787 aircraft before the Ahemdabad crash. Now it has 26 787-8 aircraft and seven 787-9 planes. These enhanced checks include a one-time pre-departure check of aircraft systems and parameters including fuel parameters monitoring and associated system, cabin air compressor and associated systems, electronic engine control system, engine fuel driven actuator and oil system, hydraulic system serviceability, and take-off parameters. Additionally, flight control inspection is to be introduced in transit inspection till further notice. Power assurance checks have also been mandated. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, while the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would also be involved in the detailed probe, given that the aircraft is manufactured by an American company—Boeing—and was manufactured in the US. A UK AAIB team is also going to help with the investigation, and so are Boeing and other major component manufacturers like GE (engine manufacturer). According to aircraft accident investigation protocol, the probe report should be finalised within a year. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘See huge blue ocean opportunity in India for regional jets, perfect fit between turboprops, larger planes': Raul Villaron
Hitherto a small player in India's aviation landscape, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has its sights set on India as its next growth market—for commercial as well as defence aircraft. The company is already in the running for the Indian Air Force's (IAF) medium transport aircraft procurement project, and is also pitching its portfolio of regional commercial jets—a segment yet to take off in India—to fast-expanding Indian airlines. As part of the effort to capitalise on the opportunity, Embraer recently announced an India-focussed subsidiary. In a freewheeling interaction with Sukalp Sharma, Embraer's President and Group CEO Francisco Gomes Neto and Embraer Commercial Aviation's Head of Asia-Pacific Raul Villaron discuss the company's India ambitions and vision, including the possibility of local manufacturing. Edited excerpts: The Embraer C390 is seen as a frontrunner for the IAF's medium transport aircraft procurement project. How confident are you about winning the contract? How does the C390 stack up against competing aircraft like Lockheed Martin C130? Neto: We are convinced that the C390 is the best solution for the Indian Air Force. If you look at the last orders we got for C390—Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria—most of them replaced the C130 with the C390 because our aircraft is more modern, faster, and carries more load. It's multi-mission by design, it is more flexible. With the C390, you can perform the same missions with less aircraft. At what stage are your conversations with the IAF and the government? When do you expect a decision? Neto: I think we're moving well. They are learning more and more about the features of our aircraft, and we believe we have a good chance, although nothing is decided…We expect a decision in a couple of years. But this is not in our hands. This is more in the hands of the Indian Air Force. If you get the IAF contract, you will be setting up an FAL (final assembly line) to build the aircraft in India. Are you also open to having an FAL here for your commercial jets as well? Neto: Everything depends on the size of the order. In the case of a C390, the expectation is to have a deal for 40 to 80 aircraft, which is a lot for that size of aircraft. If the orders (for commercial aircraft) are large enough, it would be possible for us…We are bringing a procurement team already to India because we want to explore a supply chain, even without selling many commercial jets here. We already want to find component suppliers here for aircraft to be sold in other markets. Coming to commercial aircraft, Embraer specialises in regional or small narrow-body planes. This segment did not take off in India, even as the country emerged as a massive market for larger aircraft. What is Embraer's view on the India opportunity in the segment? Villaron: We see a huge blue ocean opportunity in India, where most of the unserved markets are either too long for turboprops or too thin for (typical) narrow-bodies. We see a potential for 300 (small narrow-body) aircraft in the next 10 years, and 500 aircraft in the next 20 years in India. Historically, Indian airlines either ordered turboprops or larger narrow-bodies. We feel turboprops now have a mature network in India and there aren't many growth opportunities left. It's limiting the airlines' ability to expand regional networks because the (turboprops') range doesn't let them go beyond the short sectors. Also, with improvement in India's roads and airport infrastructure, the benefits of turboprops are eroding with time. Meanwhile, the regular narrow-bodies are upgauging (getting bigger). So, the gap between a turboprop and a typical narrow-body is widening and is becoming difficult to bridge. You want to replace a 70-seater (turboprop) due to higher demand, but a 180-seater (regular narrow-body jet like Airbus A320 and Boeing 737) has more seats (than needed). But a small narrow-body like ours—up to 146 seats—fits perfectly in that gap. Why couldn't Embraer break into India's commercial aviation market? Villaron: Embraer didn't have a strong penetration in India compared to the US, Europe, and some other markets, as our earlier E1 (series) aircraft's main value proposition was trip cost, while the seat cost was higher, which did not suit a country like India where yields are very low. But our new E2 (family of aircraft) comes with more seats, and its seat cost is very competitive—same as larger narrow-body planes—while the trip cost is still 20-25 per cent lower than theirs. Are you in active discussions with Indian airlines for your E2 aircraft? Villaron: Yes. Our main partner in India is (regional airline) Star Air (with five previous generation Embraer regional jets), and they have announced their plans to expand their fleet. So, we are talking to them to understand their needs. They took delivery of another Embraer aircraft just a month ago. The business plan and the opportunity that we see for the airline is interesting, so we are talking to them. What about major Indian airlines that are predominantly in larger narrow-body operations? Villaron: As good salespeople, we talk to everyone. We want to present these opportunities that are so clear to us. We want to make sure the airlines visualise that as well. The big ones (IndiGo, Air India, etc), I think are busy with the large aircraft orders they have placed and the expansion internationally. But they also recognise there is a need to work on the regional network. IndiGo has a turboprop fleet, which at a certain point will need to be replaced and we believe that jets are going to be the next phase of the regional network expansion in India. As for Air India, their main competitor (IndiGo) has a regional network, while they don't. So, I believe they would need to look at these opportunities. We are the leaders in the regional segment, so we are confident that we will be considered. Airbus, which has a significant presence in India, also has a small narrow-body product, A220. What is your pitch to the airlines for your E2 portfolio—E190-E2 and E195-E2—vis-à-vis the A220? Villaron: If we do a nose-to-nose aircraft comparison, the E2 is much more efficient. It's about 10 per cent cheaper to operate due to lower fuel burn. It's a much lighter aircraft, has a higher-aspect-ratio wing with better aerodynamics. It has a longer interval, so maintenance cost is lower. We use a similar engine as the A220 but because our aircraft is lighter, it stays longer on the wing…We are confident that even though our competitor is strong in India, when you compare the two aircraft, our product is better. Also, if you're looking for something that really complements the gap in India's fleet, you need to buy something from the gap, not something that's almost as big as the thing you're not looking for. The A220, with around 160 seats, is very close to a (regular) narrow-body that has 180 seats. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
