Business
Cruising Heights
BUSINESS AVIATION INDIA'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY?
India's Missed Opportunity?
9 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
INDIGO'S WET LEASE GAMBLEAN OPPORTUNITY OR A COST RISK?
IndiGo’s reliance on wet-leased aircraft, including six MAX 8 jets, highlights its efforts to tackle grounded planes and expand capacity. While offering flexibility, this approach poses cost and operational challenges, writes AMEYA JOSHI.
4 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
LAST-MILE DELIVERY, AI GOES THE DISTANCE
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising air cargo and last-mile delivery by optimising logistics, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency. Despite challenges, Al-driven solutions promise transformative growth for the cargo industry, writes R CHANDRAKANTH
7 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
TAMIL NADU'S REGIONAL AVIATION SURGE
Tamil Nadu is set for an aviation boom, with upgrades to key regional airports and plans for new facilities like the Hosur and Parandur airports. These developments aim to enhance connectivity, boost economic growth, and attract trade and tourism across the state, writes RASHEED KAPPAN
8 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
POTENTIAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Artificial Intelligence promises to transform Air Traffic Management (ATM), improving efficiency, safety, and decision-making. Despite its potential, challenges like regulatory complexities and integration barriers must be addressed, writes DR. S K SARASWATI
10 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
INSIGHTFUL MRO
Predictive maintenance is a clear digital priority for MROs. This transformative approach enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and minimises downtime, addressing evolving challenges in fleet management, writes ATUL CHANDRA
8 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
INDIAN AVIATION'S 2025 TAKEOFF
India's aviation sector soared to record-breaking domestic passenger traffic in 2024, highlighting robust growth despite challenges like supply chain disruptions and infrastructure constraints. As 2025 unfolds, transformative fleet expansions, new airports, and regional connectivity initiatives promise unprecedented growth, but questions about profitability and execution remain, analyses AMEYA JOSHI
8 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
HIGH ON HYDROGEN
Hydrogen fuel presents a transformative opportunity for sus-tainable aviation, offering zero-emission potential. With industry giants like Airbus and Embraer leading advancements, its deployment remains a decade away, observes ATUL CHANDRA
9 min |
January 2025
Cruising Heights
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF BUSINESS JETS IN AN ENCOURAGING MARKET
India's business jet market is witnessing growth, fueled by rising UHNWIS and increasing private jet demand. Yet, challenges like high operational costs, inadequate infrastructure, and unclear fractional ownership policies hinder its full potential, explains R. CHANDRAKANTH
6 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
Durable Solutions for Runway Construction
Durable runway and highway construction can be achieved by promoting advanced solutions like Performance Grade (PG) binders and leveraging NABL-accredited laboratories to design pavement that can withstand the challenges of aggressive climatic conditions and heavy traffic loads. This ensures long-lasting, climate-adaptable, ESG-compliant, and sustainable infrastructure while advocating for policy changes and innovation. In this interaction with SUBHENDU KUNDU, General Manager of Marketing & Branding of Hindustan Colas, these pressing issues and forward-looking solutions are discussed in detail.
6 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
BEYOND FUNCTIONALITY DESIGNING AIRPORTS FOR EXTENDED PASSENGER STAYS
Airports today are redefining functionality with immersive designs that blend green aesthetics, local culture, and retail-focused layouts. By encouraging extended passenger stays, they transform travel into an engaging experience, observes RASHEED KAPPAN
8 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
MERGER OF EQUALS
Vistara has flown into the sunset following its merger with Air India, marking a significant step in the Tata Group's ambitious aviation transformation. As MIKE RAJKUMAR notes, while the merger brings opportunities for growth with an expanded fleet and network, it also poses challenges in preserving Vistara's service ethos and navigating complex integration processes
6 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
WAITING TO TAKE OFF
India's coastline and waterways present immense potential for seaplane operations, particularly for regional connectivity and tourism, yet seaplane operations are yet to take-off despite many attempts. While challenges like infrastructure and commercial viability persist, strong government initiatives, including revised regulations and financial support, are required to establish a sustainable seaplane ecosystem, examines ATUL CHANDRA
8 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
TRANSFORMING ATM WITH REMOTE TOWERS AND SWIM
Remote-control towers and SWIM technology offer cost-effective solutions for managing small airports, enhancing data sharing, efficiency, and scalability while aligning with global aviation standards, explains DR. ARJUN SINGH
7 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
REVIVING MAMNOOR AIRPORTI TELANGANA'S GATEWAY TO REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY
Mamnoor Airport, once India's largest pre-Independence airport, is set for a transformative revival, marking a significant milestone for Telangana's aviation sector. With ₹205 crore sanctioned for expansion, the airport aims to accommodate international aircraft and boost connectivity, tourism, and economic growth in the region, reports NIDHI SHARMA
4 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
KERALA'S AVIATION EXPANSION PROGRESS AMIDST CHALLENGES
Four international airports and a fifth on the way mark Kerala's aviation growth, but financial struggles and safety concerns reveal that all is not well, uncovers RASHEED KAPPAN
8 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
A LANDMARK IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR TRAINING
SIMAERO AND HAVELSAN FORGE A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
4 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
INDIGO FUNNELS HOLIDAY TRAFFIC THROUGH BENGALURU
IndiGo is establishing Bengaluru as a strategic hub, connecting high-spending local travelers to international leisure destinations like Bali and Langkawi. With its market-stimulating fares and expanding infrastructure, the airline is tapping into Bengaluru's potential as a gateway for holiday traffic, highlights AMEYA JOSHI
4 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
GROUNDED FOREVER
The collapse of Jet Airways is a cautionary tale for all Indian carriers, highlighting the risks of debt, mismanagement, and competition in a volatile aviation market. Once a leader in Indian aviation, its liquidation marks the end of an era for Full Service Carriers, highlights ATUL CHANDRA
9 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
THE JET SAGA ENDS
The Supreme Court's decision to order the liquidation of Jet Airways is a stinging reflection on how the bankruptcy code is being interpreted by the NCLT and how it has become an impediment rather than a transformative institution that can help companies come back to life.
6 min |
December 2024
Cruising Heights
Adani Airport Thales Forge Strategic Partnership to Improve Airport Operations and Passenger Experience in India
Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), the largest private airport operator in India, and Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies, today announced a strategic partnership to revolutionise AAHL’s international airport operations and passenger experience across the country.
1 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
ADVANCING AIR MOBILITY OVERCOMING CHALLENGES, SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), as analysed by M P RAJASEKHARAN, explores solutions for reducing urban congestion and enhancing access to remote locations through sustainable, automated air transport systems, addressing key challenges and future opportunities in this evolving sector.
10+ min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
ON THE CUSP OF GROWTH
The growth of regional airlines in India will increase the market for regional jetliners.
10 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
BOEING STRIKE DISRUPTS INDIAN CARRIERS' EXPANSION PLANS
The Boeing machinist strike has stalled aircraft deliveries, directly affecting Akasa Air and Air India Express, both of which are now facing delays in their fleet expansion efforts, highlights
6 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
REGIONAL AIRPORTS MUSHROOMING WITH CHALLENGES GALORE
Karnataka's push for regional air connectivity has led to a surge in airport infrastructure, yet many of these airports face challenges like fluctuating demand and limited flight frequencies. While the UDAN scheme has supported growth, the long-term viability of several regional airports remains uncertain, highlights
8 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
'PHARMACY OF THE WORLD' SUPPLY CHAIN WOES
India's pharmaceutical sector, has achieved remarkable growth, but faces significant supply chain hurdles, including high logistics costs and limited cold chain facilities. Addressing these challenges is essential to sustain its global impact and future expansion, reports
6 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
BUMPER WINTER AHEAD FOR INDIAN CARRIERS
The DGCA's winter 2024 schedule approves 25,007 weekly flights, marking growth for Indian carriers, with Air India Express leading in expansion and Vistara set to merge with Air India, analyses
4 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
AIRPORT ADVANCEMENT
Indian airports are placing a greater emphasis on digitalisation and enhancing their eco-friendly credentials, updates
8 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
THROTTLING AHEAD
The situation with the grounding of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines is now trending downwards, a report
10 min |
November 2024
Cruising Heights
Connecting cities to airports HELI-TAXIS ARE OUT, AIR TAXIS ARE IN
As heli-taxis falter, electric air taxis promise to transform urban connectivity. Yet, scalability, regulations, and operational challenges must be overcome for them to deliver efficient, affordable city-airport travel, reviews
8 min |