Business
Cruising Heights
Are the new airports workable ?
As new regional airports struggle to stay afloat, there is a rush to build more airports. It could well result in the creation of ghost airports with few or no flights.
8 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
India Becomes World's Fifth Largest Aviation Market
India has emerged as the world's fifthlargest aviation market in 2024, surpassing Japan which handled around 205 million passengers on its way up the rankings.
4 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
Flight of the Falcon
Dassault and Reliance will manufacture the Falcon 2000 LXS business jet in India, but its long-term viability is not clear.
5 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
Dassault is already manufacturing in Nagpur
The Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DARL) is a fully operational aerospace hub in Nagpur. It will require little effort to create a final assembly line.
4 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
Adani Defence, Prime Aero acquire Indamer Technics to boost India's MRO leadership
Adani Defence & Aerospace, in partnership with Prime Aero, has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Indamer Technics Private Limited (ITPL), one of India's leading private-sector Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies.
1 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
IndiGo commences construction of MRO facility
6E kickstarted their MRO ambitions in Bengaluru with an auspicious Bhoomi Poojan (groundbreaking ceremony) at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
4 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
The magic of a small town connection
Manas Kulkarni, who grows bananas, cotton, pulses, etc., in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, flew on his 50th FLY91 flight from Jalgaon to Pune on July 2. The lone FLY91 flight from Jalgaon to Pune takes just over an hour to complete its journey. Manas Kulkarni, an agriculturist who grows a range of crops, including cotton, bananas, pigeon pea (toor dal), wheat, maize, gram and onion in his fields in Vivare Bk village, in Jalgaon's Raver taluka, has taken that flight 50 times so far. The 54-year-old quietly clocked his half-century in the sky, for which he was felicitated by the regional airline's staff at the Jalgaon airport.
1 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
CAN INDIA'S YOUNGEST AIRLINE SURVIVE ITS AMBITION?
When Akasa Air took off in 2022, it promised to rewrite the rules of Indian aviation-lean, modern, investorbacked, and aggressively ambitious. Positioned as a nimble disruptor in a crowded sky, the airline quickly captured market attention with rapid route expansion and a bold all-Boeing fleet strategy. Yet, as Akasa enters its third year, the narrative has grown more complex.
8 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
Booking.com's latest research reveals the Indian travellers' quirks, hiccups and comforts
Booking.com's latest research, in collaboration with YouGov, delves into these unforgettable aspects of the Indian holiday experience. From the panic over a forgotten phone charger and the comforting presence of homemade namkeen, to the chaos of luggage mix-ups and the appeal of hotel freebies, the report unpacks the relatable quirks shaping Indian travellers' journeys.
2 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
Turbulent Times
Embraer is heavily dependent on the U.S. market, and tariff concerns could impact its overall health, says ATUL CHANDRA
6 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
The battle for the cockpit
In the high-growth corridors of Indian aviation, the fiercest competition is for pilots. Over the past year, a quiet but escalating talent war has upended airline schedules, strained training pipelines, and sent boardrooms scrambling for answers. Gulf carriers have become a magnet for Indian-trained commanders, while domestic rivals poach from one another in a cycle of disruption and retaliation. India recently broke the silence, taking the fight to the ICAO and urging the creation of a global code of conduct to curb aggressive last-minute hiring.
6 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
How Embraer dodged a bullet
The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer has escaped the wrath of President Trump's tariffs, not without considerable support from US regional carriers for whom the company's jets are critical.health
4 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
Boeing 777X Nears Key Certification Milestone
IndiGo has unveiled direct flights between Hindon (Ghaziabad) and Goa, commencing 20 July 2025.
1 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
Russia Prepares First Flight of Indigenous MC-21 Jet
Russia is set to reach a significant milestone in its civil aviation ambitions with the maiden flight of the fully Russian-made MC-21 passenger aircraft, scheduled for August 2025.
1 min |
August 2025
Cruising Heights
The cacophony around Schiphol
The conflict surrounding Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has escalated to such an extent that it has even led to the creation of a new Dutch term, schiphollen, which translates to \"manipulation, lies, and distortion of facts,\" reported Politico.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
IATA Unveils SAF Matchmaker Platform
In a significant move, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Matchmaker platform, a pioneering initiative to connect airlines with SAF suppliers and streamline sustainable fuel deals worldwide.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
IATA Slams Misguided Solidarity Levy Proposal on Aviation
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has voiced strong opposition to the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force (GSLTF) proposal to impose a tax on air travel, unveiled on 4 July 2025 in Geneva, aimed at boosting revenue for developing countries and addressing climate change, pandemics, and development challenges.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
IndiGo Kicks Off Long-Haul Era with Mumbai-Manchester, marking its UK Debut
IndiGo, India's leading airline, has marked a significant milestone by launching its first long-haul service, connecting Mumbai to Manchester with direct flights.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
IndiGo Launches Direct Flights Linking Mumbai and Adampur
IndiGo has introduced direct flights between Mumbai and Adampur (Jalandhar), marking its 92nd domestic destination as of July 2025.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Business Aviation in India has many challenges
Business in aviation in India is growing, but it continues to face regulatory challenges.
5 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Paris Air Show: The sombre skies of Le Bourget
The 2025 Paris Air Show ( June 16 to 22) at Le Bourget radiated an atmosphere that was both sombre and purposeful, a reflection of global tensions and recent tragedies, yet imbued with resilience and determination. Its biennial rhythm was undisturbed, attracting 2,500 exhibitors from 48 nations, hosting 150 showcased aircraft, and drawing over 290,000 visitors, including more than 127,000 trade professionals, 322 official delegations, and 300 startups.
10 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
AAI's Airports Earn Enhanced Passenger Satisfaction
The airport authority of India's latest survey has seen Madhya Pradesh top the charts, and the Northeast also get its share of the bouquet. A special report
4 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
IndiGo Launches Direct Flights from Hindon to Goa, Enhancing Regional Access
IndiGo has unveiled direct flights between Hindon (Ghaziabad) and Goa, commencing 20 option for residents of East and Central Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, bringing Goa's iconic beaches closer during peak season. The flexible schedule addresses rising demand, ensuring comfort and choice for travellers.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
A LIFE 'CHANGING' SEAT IC
In his book Seat 1C, Zafar Masud, one of the only two survivors of PIA flight 8303, delves into not only the incident itself but also the life-changing makeover since then and the many learning that he has assimilated in the process.
7 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Etihad Airways Celebrates One Year of Jaipur-Abu Dhabi Route
Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates' national carrier, marked the first anniversary of its nonstop service between Abu Dhabi and Jaipur on 16 June 2025, doubling its flight frequencies from four to ten weekly since its launch on 16 June 2024.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Booking.com Highlights Indian Parents' Travel Revolution in 2025
Booking.com, a leading global travel platform, released a study on 24 June 2025 in India, revealing that 75 per cent of Indian parents prioritise travel in 2025, outpacing 58 per cent in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and 53 per cent globally. This shift transforms travel into meaningful family bonding, cultural immersion, and purposeful spending, driven by a desire to share values and traditions with children while embracing solo journeys for personal growth. Asia (62 per cent), Europe (55 per cent), and North America (26 per cent) comprise the top destination choices.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Airports and renewable energy sources
India's airports are increasingly focusing on green and clean energy. Also, the ambition is to completely green fence, the Airport and leave no carbon footprint.
8 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
DGCA Reprimands Air India Express Over Engine Maintenance Lapses and Forged Records
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a stern reprimand to Air India Express for failing to address critical engine maintenance issues on an Airbus A320 and allegedly falsifying records to conceal noncompliance. The action follows a confidential government memo dated March 2025, which highlighted significant safety oversights. The aviation regulator's surveillance revealed that the airline did not replace essential engine parts within the stipulated timeframe, as mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), raising concerns about potential risks to flight safety.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Royal Jordanian Launches Non-Stop Mumbai-Amman Flights, Boosting India-Jordan Ties
Royal Jordanian Airlines has introduced a new nonstop route between Amman's Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), starting 19 June 2025.
1 min |
July 2025
Cruising Heights
Throttling Up
The Paris Air Show showed the way forward for engine makers, with growth in orders and a rise in new engine technologies. ATUL CHANDRA decodes the engine update from the show.
10 min |