Airliners-India.com

jbalonso777 · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 5:41 pm Post subject:

Was at BOM today, saw a couple of AI/IX birds gathering dust.

VT-ANI and VT-ALG being cannibalized. ALG didn't have the starboard GE90.

2 B747s which I'm guessing are ESO and ESN? And an IX B73H in between.

ALH looking good Smile

_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Billions of tax payer rupees rotting away in the sun.

The_Goat · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:28 am Post subject:

So they have cannibalized ALG to make ALH airworthy, and ANI is acting as spares supplier to the rest of the 787 fleet.

What a moronic, garbage dump of an airline!

I cannot understand why one must cannibalize aircraft. The former AI and the erstwhile IC never did that in the past.

What sort of village idiots have they hired to run the show in the engineering departments?
_________________
I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl

luvleen · Member Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 179 Location: Bombay

Air India’s Maharajah gets a makeover

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-Indias-Maharajah-gets-a-makeover/articleshow/45926691.cms

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

harshwcam3 · Member Joined: 18 Oct 2012 Posts: 114

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Nimish · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 12:13 pm Post subject:

From: http://profit.ndtv.com/news/corporates/article-air-india-announces-slew-of-cost-cutting-steps-report-728927

Nimish · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 12:14 pm Post subject:

From: http://www.arabnews.com/news/690876

Nimish · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 12:18 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

747-237 · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:13 pm Post subject:

Air India invites sealed bids from Indian / Foreign Institutions / Banks for Bridge financing of three (3) B787-8 aircraft.

http://mmd.airindia.co.in/aimmd/tender/RFP%20Bridge-Jan2015.pdf
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

747-237 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 6:50 am Post subject:

Incident: Air India B788 near Budapest on Jan 22nd 2015, engine shut down in flight

An Air India Boeing 787-800, registration VT-ANL performing flight AI-130 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Mumbai (India), was enroute at FL390 about 240nm west of Budapest (Hungary) still in Serbian Airspace when the crew needed to shut the right hand engine (GEnx) down, drifted down to FL230 and diverted to Budapest dumping fuel on the way to Budapest. The aircraft landed safely on Budapest's runway 31R about 50 minutes after leaving FL390.

It is currently expected that Air India's flights from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) and from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) stop in Budapest to pick up the passengers and take them to Mumbai.

Source: The Aviation Herald
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

iflytb20 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:34 pm Post subject:

ANH had an engine shutdown just after takeoff on the 19th. Returned to DEL.
_________________
Always do everything into wind...... except piss Wink

The_Goat · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:46 pm Post subject:

Does ANI, the sparepart store, still have its two engines on?
_________________
I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl

luvleen · Member Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 179 Location: Bombay

Air India's UK flight leaves with bag sans flyer, returns

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-Indias-UK-flight-leaves-with-bag-sans-flyer-returns/articleshow/45997726.cms

Interestingly, it was the passenger who pointed out that his bag was on the flight he had just missed.

Another question which i believe the more experienced members may be able to answer - the flight was called back, bags offloaded and the flight left without the bags and the passenger.. Wouldn't it have made more sense to let the passenger board the flight since the flight had come back anyway..

747-237 · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:17 am Post subject:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/ai-considers-ordering-boeing-737-max-jet-for-fleet-expansion-115012400029_1.html

AI considers ordering Boeing 737-Max jet for fleet expansion

January 24, 2015

Air India was considering placing an order for Boeing Co 737-Max planes to expand its fleet, a person with direct knowledge of the plan said.

The planes won't replace the state-run carrier's current old-version 737s, instead would grow the airline's fleet, the person said, who asked not to be identified because plans are private. No final decision on the purchase has been taken yet, said the person, who didn't elaborate on the number of planes the carrier plans to order.

Boeing India spokeswoman Ashmita Sethi did not have an immediate comment to offer.

Air India also plans to lease 40 turboprop planes from France's Avions de Transport Regional GIE, which the carrier's regional unit Alliance Air will use to connect smaller cities, the person said. Air India has already placed an order for five turboprop planes, he said.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

saurabhm_101 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 529 Location: Mumbai

Its a security issue Stealthpilot.

I've heard Air Jazeera returning to BAH because there was a no show at the gate, the bags were loaded and they departed. It was funny listening to the Capt. yelling at the security and load sheet staff on dispatch frequency whilst they were on the runway waiting for take off. They eventually took off when they were still in doubt (I don't know why!?) only to return back after 25 minutes to offload the bag.
_________________
Flying High.... You and Me...!

Kabir-de-saint · Member Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 73 Location: New Delhi

......In the review of the Air India’s OTP on 29th January 2015 Secretary, MOcA has directed that delays to the flights are causing monetary losses besides loss in reputation of the company. Accountability for the delays has to be fixed and all the concerned have to be penalised. The erring employees may be advised by the Departmental Head and RD of the region, and the loss caused would be recovered from them......

....Financial departmental then will recover the losses from the salaries of the erring employees.....

Don’t have the entire script of the above mentioned letter, but there is a definite directive in the line of the subject.

Great work!

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Nimish · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 4:55 pm Post subject:

PlaneLover · Member Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 275

Delay a flight, face pay cut, Air India staff told

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Delay-a-flight-face-pay-cut-Air-India-staff-told/articleshow/46089969.cms

NEW DELHI: Exasperated by Air India's unending flight delays and very poor on time performance (OTP), the government has passed an unprecedented order to deduct payment of any employee who reports late and consequentially forces a delayed take off. This order is effective from Sunday (February 1).

Issued by aviation secretary V Somasundaran, the order covers pilots, cabin crew, engineering staff (if they make aircraft available for flight late), ground handlers and even in-flight catering suppliers. This is incidentally Somasundaran's second order within a week. He had earlier directed AI to hire 800 cabin crew to mitigate delays caused by a crippling crew shortage.

"Secretary (aviation) has noted that flight delays are causing monetary losses besides loss of reputation to AI. (He has directed that) accountability for delays has to be fixed... In case of delays on account of late reporting by cabin crew, pilots or delays on account of engineering/ground handling personnel or late catering by caterers, the loss would be recovered from them," AI ED operations, Captain A K Govil, said in a circular issued last Friday.

Govil's circular adds: "Salaries shall be paid only after related deductions have been effected. Strict disciplinary action shall be taken against repeat offenders."

Somasundaran had reviewed AI's very poor on time performance (OTP) last Thursday. The airline has almost consistently been at the bottom of list of punctual airlines issued every month by the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA).

Apart from plain indiscipline, AI has been facing a mix of issues that have made its OTP a nightmare for its flyers. These include a spate of engineering issues late last year which saw a notice being issued to head of engineering department and a severe shortage of both pilots and cabin crew.

Govt has asked Air India to cut salary of any employee who causes delay in flights.
The secretary, who had earlier directed immediate hiring of cabin crew, has asked the airline to install biometric attendance systems at all flight despatch units "to record attendance of all pilots and cabin crew in real time basis."

When contacted, the airline spokesman said that AI will shortly install biometric attendance systems at all airports beginning with Delhi and Mumbai. All AI offices too shall have this system, with the airline headquarters in Delhi already getting the same.

"The secretary had directed us to hire 800 cabin crew members and we have already got 320 recruits. His orders for improving OTP will be followed stringently," the spokesman said.

However, AI's senior employees are not impressed by these moves. "The government has to understand that the airline must be run by aviation professionals and not IAS officers in the ministry or in AI board. Over 80% of flight delays are caused by a crippling shortage of cabin crew. We are also short of pilots. Should the minister, secretary or chairman's salary be cut if flight delays happen due to their failure to hire people in time? NDA continues to run AI in the same ragtag manner that UPA did. The airline's and its passengers' wait for achche din is an unending one. In fact, no one knows if achche din or antim din will come first!" rued an insider.

Nimish · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:14 pm Post subject:

^^ Great move IMO - and it should be applied pretty vigorously at random weeks during the month/ year (need not apply every single day). Will force slacking AI employees to pull up their socks, and serious hardworking AI employees will anyway not be impacted.
_________________
We miss you Nalini!

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Air India Express to target north Indian market based out of Delhi
News
4-Feb-2015 11:11 AM
Air India Express CEO K Shyam Sundar, speaking on the sidelines of the CAPA India Aviation Summit, said the LCC would target the north Indian market based out of Delhi (Live Mint, 03-Feb-2015). He explained: “We are looking at connecting cities such as Lucknow, Amritsar, Varanasi and Delhi. We would be connecting neighbouring countries and the Middle East directly from these north Indian cities". At present, 50% of the carrier's revenue is derived from Kerala.

747-237 · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:01 am Post subject:

Air India Express may post first profit this fiscal year

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-express-may-post-first-profit-this-fiscal-year-ceo-k-shyam-sundar/articleshow/46126966.cms
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 7:15 am Post subject:

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-air-india-designs-special-menu-for-upcoming-cricket-world-cup-2058802

Air India designs special menu for upcoming Cricket world cup

7 February 2015

The menu will be served for the duration of the tournament – February 14 till March 29. Designed by the Oberoi Flight Services, the menu includes lunch, dinner and desserts. A beverage being introduced on their flights is the smoothie in a variety of flavours. Indian wines will also find a place on these flights.

At an event held in Delhi on Friday to mark the special menu, Rohit Nandan, CMD, Air India said: "The airline takes pride in its culinary offerings across the network. Now, with the increasing number of international travellers on Air India flights, along with the opening up of new destinations in the recent past, the airline will include more of the Indian cuisine."

Also launched on Friday, was a specially designed menu card for the occasion and cricket-specific nightwear for Business Class passengers.
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 7:18 am Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AC-trouble-on-Delhi-Milan-flight-leaves-AI-Dreamliner-grounded-in-Milan/articleshow/46152131.cms

AC trouble on Delhi-Milan flight leaves AI Dreamliner grounded in Milan

Feb 7, 2015

An Air India Dreamliner flying from Delhi to Milan on Tuesday with over 120 passengers on board saw three of its four AC units' components called cabin air compressors (CAC) — which supply air and maintain pressure in the passenger cabin — fail. The pilot deftly managed to land safely in Milan and then the Dreamliner (VT-ANE) had to be grounded there.

Sources say the aircraft in India was released under minimum equipment list (MEL), meaning sent to for flight with inoperative equipment which has backups and does not render aircraft unworthy, for the Italy flight as one CAC was no functioning properly. En route Italy, two more CACs reportedly developed snags, leaving just one of the critical components functional.

The next day, AI sent men and material to repair the grounded aircraft on another flight. Later, the plane had to be flown back to Delhi as a ferry flight — without any passengers — so that the required repairs could be carried out at the airline's base.

"There are procedures to fly an aircraft if all CACs fail. The aircraft is flown at a lower altitude. While fuel efficiency suffers due to flying at lower altitude, the AC works at a sub-optimal level. Luckily on the Delhi-Milan flight, AI 123, this situation did not arise as one CAC was working," said a source.

A senior AI official confirmed the snag on AI 123. "The air conditioning on this aircraft had a snag. Because of this, it had to be grounded in Milan," said the official. Last October, an AI Dreamliner flying from Delhi to London had to return to IGI Airport after remaining airborne for over three hours due to AC trouble.

But this latest grounding instance has led to anger among AI pilots. They are questioning why the airline's major engineering bases are releasing aircraft for flights under MEL. "Sending an aircraft with a dysfunctional component under MEL from small airports that are not the airline's engineering base is understood. But how can Delhi or Mumbai, our major engineering bases, do that? This led to the aircraft getting grounded abroad," said a source.

In the recent past, AI has seen a number of Dreamliners getting grounded abroad due to technical issues. Last August, the airline had issued a show cause notice to the CEO of its engineering subsidiary over the large number of aircraft being grounded and unusually large delays caused by snags. The notice was issued to AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) after the airline had as many as 10 planes — five Airbus A-320s, three to four Dreamliners and one other aircraft —being grounded on a single day.
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

megatop747 · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 6:42 pm Post subject:

I flew AI 113, DEL - BHX on saturday 07 Feb. Scheduled departure at 1315 was re-scheduled to 1500 but took off at 1545.

On arrival at Birmingham I saw what looked like another AI dreamliner. Any news of AI a/c going tech ?

747-237 · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 7:42 pm Post subject:

megatop747 · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 6:11 pm Post subject:

Thank you, 747-237 !!

Looks like I had a great escape. If I had taken the a/c (AI113) the next day (sunday) as per my original plan, I would have landed only on Monday 0100 hrs.

Does anyone know of a channel I could use to say Thank you to an air hostess?? My flight from MAA to DEL was made a memorable one by an air hostess by name Ms Nagamani. Maybe she didn't do anything out of the ordinary or something that you expect as a very basic gesture from them. What made her stand out was that every other hostess/ steward on both legs of my journey (MAA-DEL-BHX) were un-interested.

I thought of writing a thank you note that would encourage her to continue her good work!!

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

HAWK21M · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:50 pm Post subject:

What transpired on that Pilot-Engineer fight thereafter...has that investigation been concluded yet.
_________________
Think of the Brighter side !!!

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Nimish · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 5:21 pm Post subject:

HAWK21M · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 6:04 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

luvleen · Member Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 179 Location: Bombay

A short trip report i found on the net - AI Dreamliner DEL to SYD

http://www.traveller.com.au/airline-review-air-india-dreamliner-787-economy-class-137m3b

747-237 · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:28 am Post subject:

Virtually all the B 777-200 LRs, a drain on the finances, have been phased out. The 747s operations, another oil guzzler, are now marginal. On both 777 LRs and 747, the airline actually made a loss on the incremental cost of operation. In other words, it was cheaper to keep these on the ground than to fly on most routes.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/a-whiff-of-hope-for-air-india-115021700016_1.html
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.