In this issue

2017 was indeed an incredible year for aviation. Carriers the world over saw profits - and quite large ones at that - from passenger as well as cargo operations. While established aircraft manufacturers delivered a large number of planes, Russia and China got their act together to showcase their brand new single-aisle planes. There was also a fair amount of politics: the Airbus succession, the Bombardier-Airbus tie-up and, of course, the US Big Three versus the Middle East Big Three.
2017 was the year when IndiGo achieved a milestone that Indian carriers dream of: 1000 flights a day. It was also the year when the government's vision of letting the common Indian fly was realised through its Regional Connectivity Scheme.
There were the odd blips of instances where fliers were harassed and humiliated. Cruising Heights takes a close look at the year gone by.

Jetting To Profits – For The Ninth Time

With a strong focus on cost-cutting measures to unburden its huge debt, Jet Airways has reported a net profit of ₹71 crores for the Q2 FY18.

2 mins

Four To 1000

That’s the story of India’s world-class airline. From 2006, when the airline had one aircraft that flew four flights a day to today with 150 planes making 1000 flights a day, IndiGo’s journey has been one of focus and commitment, writes SHAKTI LUMBA, one of the insiders who has witnessed aviation history in the making.

9 mins

James ‘The Disruptor' - Hogan's The Name

Quite like the swashbuckling hero of the 007 movies he shared his first name with James Hogan’s was a class act at Etihad Airways.

6 mins

The Year Of The Upstarts

If there is one segment that most carriers are interested in, it is the middle of the market, often abbreviated MoM, the airliner market between the narrowbody and the widebody aircraft. Over the last year, a number of aircraft manufacturers have put their best foot forward to get into the hallowed MoM segment.

7 mins

The Monarch Is Dead...And So Is Air Berlin And Niki

“Important! Monarch has stopped operating. Please do not go to the airport.” A simple enough message but one that Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was forced to send out. The October 2, 2017 message was blunt but what else could the CAA do when the 49-year-old Monarch airline stopped flying.

7 mins

Brexit: Conundrums

No one really knows what will happen in the next 15 months to aviation stakeholders after the UK leaves the European Union in March 2019.

3 mins

Al Baker, The Blockade Breaker

Were it not for the feisty Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, the Gulf kingdom of Qatar would have starved to death. What is it that makes this aviation honcho tick?

8 mins

Are We A Safe Aviation System?

We are way below global standards of aviation safety, comments CAPT A RANGANATHAN and points out that what the system lacks are professionalism and transparency.

6 mins

Falcon 5X Ends Journey Even Before Flight

The first deliveries of 5X had to be pushed back to 2020, which prompted at least 12 customers to cancel their orders for the $45 million jet.

2 mins

Flying Abroad On Private Jets Becomes Easy

Flying Abroad On Private Jets Becomes Easy

2 mins

Read all stories from Cruising Heights

Cruising Heights Magazine Description:

CRUISING HEIGHTS is India's best known monthly aviation magazine with equal interests in air cargo, travel and tourism. In its four years of existence, Cruising Heights has received accolades from the Minister of Civil Aviation, Aviation CEOs, Airport Developers, Travel Agents Associations and others for its path-breaking stories.One of the first true aviation magazines of the country, Cruising Heights was started with the idea of supporting professionals in the airline business to make informed choices on a variety of subjects from ground handling to cargo to airport development-all of which are transforming the Indian aviation scene in mind-boggling ways. Later, due to the interest it generated and in response to demands from the travel and tourism industry stakeholders we have targeted the general reader-the educated Indian who is keen to be an informed Indian-to know what's happening in the business.