Business
Cruising Heights
Etihad Guest Boosts Extraordinary Challenge Prize Pot to Over 20 Million Miles
Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, has escalated its Extraordinary Challenge prize pool to over 20 million miles. It has added 12.5 million miles in its second phase due to overwhelming demand, announced on 8 July 2025 from Abu Dhabi, UAE. Launched last month with a 5-million-mile top prize for the first to visit 15 new destinations, the competition now offers enhanced rewards: 5.125 million miles for first place, 3 million for second, and 1 million for third, with over 50,000 expected sign-ups. New categories under the \"Extraordinary Milestones\" award 25,000 miles to the first 100 visiting five new destinations and 100,000 miles to the first 100 reaching ten, benefiting over 200 potential winners.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Fly regional, Fly91
MANOJ CHACKO, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, FLY91, is gung-ho about the prospects of his regional airline. With years of Aviation (he has held senior roles at Emirates, American Express, SOTC and WNS), His expertise spans business development, operations and customer service, with a track record of driving growth in competitive markets.
9 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
SpiceJet Boosts Fleet with First Two Overhauled Engines from StandardAero
SpiceJet has taken a major stride in fleet Srevitalisation, receiving its first two overhauled engines from global maintenance provider StandardAero.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Change in Direction
Despite challenges, the advantages of hydrogen as a trans- formative aviation fuel continue to drive research efforts, says ATUL CHANDRA
8 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
A CALL FOR A NEW VISION
The Ahmedabad air crash on 12 June 2025 delivers a solemn message: post-incident re- sponse culture needs to be replaced with a proactive approach grounded in pre-emptive safety measures.
8 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Green Airports: A Work In Progress
Globally, there is a growing emphasis on achieving net-zero emissions, as evidenced by initiatives like the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) introduced by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
5 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
ATR helps ‘connect’ India
Regional airlines generally cater to smaller cities and remote areas that have few alternatives for ground or air travel, often as a result of difficult geography or low population density. India exemplifies how the efficiency and adaptability of ATR aircraft enhance regional connectivity, especially under the UDAN scheme. ALEXIS VIDAL, ATR's SVP (Commercial) spells out the mantra that helps ATR connect the dots across India.
5 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
Aviation's Net-Zero Blueprint Beyond the Linear
While Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tends to dominate headlines, decarbonisation by 2050 is possible only with a broader, multifaceted strategy, instead of any singular path
8 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
The Amadeus insight on transformative travel
As the travel sector undergoes a seismic transformation, the behaviour of travellers evolves at every stage of their journey, from the initial inspiration to the shopping and booking processes, MAHER KOUBAA Executive Vice President Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, tells us more in this exclusive Q&A
5 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
Akasa Air charting course for gen-next
The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, yet Akasa's trajectory mirrors the nation it serves — a blend of audacity and adaptability. By 2027, it aims to command 8-10 per cent of India's domestic market, with a fleet of 76 aircraft and a valuation topping $4 billion (₹33,280 crore) ahead of its IPO. As India races toward 400 million annual flyers by 2030, Akasa's story is that of corporate triumph.
7 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
IFE is a critical digital highway
In-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) have become critical elements for airlines to engage with their passengers. explains why it is essential to implement an effective in-flight entertainment (IFE) solution that is seamlessly integrated with global high-speed connectivity, sophisticated digital solutions, and extensive aftercare support. Exclusive excerpts.
5 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
India is realising its potential
2025 is an exciting year for Indian aviation. Industry leaders from around the world gathered in the capital for the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, sponsored by IndiGo. Here is IATA Director General WILLIE WALSH on the IATA AGM, India's aviation and the net-zero deadline.
4 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
Preparing for the future
As Pratt & Whitney (P&W) commemorates its 100TH anniversary this year, the company can take pride on a century of innovation even as it works to bring advancements to the the next generation of single-aisle aircraft ROB GRIFFITHS, Senior Vice President, Commercial Engines Operations, Pratt & Whitney explains how the company is actively exploring technologies such as composite fan blades, reduced core sizes, ceramic matrix composites, and hybrid-electric propulsion to further enhance the groundbreaking efficiency of modern engines. Some excerpts
4 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
Air India renaissance under the Tata Group
When the Tata Group reclaimed Air India in October 2021, paying $2.4 billion (₹18,000 crore) to reacquire the airline it had founded in 1932, it inherited a carrier that was under tremendous burden. Once celebrated for its Maharaja mascot and luxurious service, Air India has accrued losses of over $12 billion (₹998.4 billion) since 2007 and ranked among the world's most bailed-out airlines. Yet, under Tata's stewardship, Air India has embarked on one of aviation's most ambitious turnarounds, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge strategy to reclaim its position as a global aviation powerhouse.
9 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
SAF Reality Check Aviation's Green Gap
The 2050 net-zero carbon emissions goal is just 25 years away, yet global aviation is struggling to take off in its decarbonisation push. Against this harsh reality, India's SAF blending targets—1 per cent by 2025, 2 per cent by 2027, and 5 per cent by 2030—seem way too modest reports.
10+ min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
Keeping passengers connected
Intelsat prioritizes the provision of genuinely seamless, high-performance connectivity at scale across various airline fleets and routes, while also offering flexible monetization options and operational value. MIKE DEMARCO, Chief Commercial Officer, Intelsat, offers his perspective on the key developments that are shaping connectivity across airlines. Some excerpts
5 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
Secure Travel
The digitalisation of air transport and airport systems requires strong cyber security measures and strategies argues ATUL CHANDRA
10+ min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
The unstoppable ascent of India's aviation juggernaut
IndiGo's story is more than a corporate triumph. It's a blueprint for marrying fiscal rigour with operational brilliance In the process, it has not only survived but thrived, turning India's aviation liberalisation into a $50 billion empire. As CEO Pieter Elbers, the former KLM chief who took the helm in 2022, asserts, “Our goal isn’t just to fly planes, but to democratise the skies.” With 1,000 aircraft on order and a nation of 1.4 billion as its runway, IndiGo isn’t just leading Indian aviation:
10+ min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
The IX-Factor of Indian Aviation
IX is setting a new course for growth in the red-hot Indian avia- tion market. VISHAL DUGGAL reports
7 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
Defining aviation's future at IATA AGM 2025
The 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will take place from June 1 to 3 in Delhi. Returning after over forty years, this event, hosted by IndiGo, will be the third occasion that the AGM is being held in Delhi, following previous meetings in 1958 and 1983.
8 min |
June 2025
Cruising Heights
WILL DHOLERA POSITION INDIA AS A LOGISTICS POWERHOUSE?
The Dholera Airport, rising from the arid landscape approximately 80 kilometres south of Ahmedabad, isn’t just another infrastructure project. It’s the cornerstone of what could become India’s most audacious urban experiment—the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), a $30 billion smart city dreamed up as the crown jewel of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). NIDHI SHARMA reports.
8 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
UNTAPPED SKIES OF INDIA
Beyond the bustling metros, India's hidden private airfields and surging charter demand could rewrite the future of aviation — if policy, infrastructure, and innovation take flight together, highlights RASHEED KAPPAN
8 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
Eating on the floor!
Sticking to one’s roots is highly commendable and appreciated, but when done appropriately, however, a Gujarati man has taken the traditional way of Indian eating much more seriously than can be appreciated.
1 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
STARTING AN AIRLINE
There is something about aviation that seems to tickle people in South Asia ever so often.
2 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
Mumbai to Host Inter Passenger Terminal Show 2025
The upcoming Inter Passenger Terminal Show 2025 (IPTS 2025) has signed on key partners including Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIAL) as the Airport Partner.
2 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
Star Air Accelerates Growth with Fleet
Star Air, India's most consistent regional airline, announced a Smaj Embraer E175 jet, into its growing fleet.
1 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
THE FUTURE OF PILOT TRAINING: WHY INDIA NEEDS ITS SIMULATORS
India is at the cusp of an aviation boom. But the availability of trained pilots is still a key issue confronting the sector. KHUSHBEG JATTANA, General Manager for Simaero India, articulates the need for training pilots in India, to save foreign currency, save costs, prevent inordinate delays and avoid the inconvenience faced by airlines training pilots abroad.
4 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
FLY91 to purchase two ATR aircraft simultaneously
FLY91, a pure play regional airline, currently operates 100+ flights and looks to scale up its operations to 150 weekly flights to cater to the busy rush during the summer schedule.
1 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
BUSINESS AVIATION DRIVERS IN EMERGING MARKETS
India's business aviation sector is on the cusp of rapid growth, driven by new ownership models, rising private air travel demand, and emerging technologies, despite infrastructure and regulatory hurdles, highlights RASHEED KAPPAN
8 min |
May 2025
Cruising Heights
Air India receives GDP certification for cargo business
Air India, has been awarded the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) certification for its Cargo business, reinforcing its commitment to delivering world-class logistics solutions for pharmaceutical products.
1 min |