Category Archives: Aviation

Star Alliance Crowned World’s Best Airline Alliance at Skytrax World Airline Awards

Star Alliance has been awarded the prestigious title of World’s Best Airline Alliance at this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards. Additionally, the Alliance’s newly opened lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport has won the title of World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge in its inaugural year. Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias accepted these honors at a ceremony held at the renowned Fairmont Windsor Park in the UK.

Celebrating the occasion, Panagiotoulias said, “We are humbled to learn that millions of customers voted and made us the best yet again. Not only does this acknowledge the effort we dedicate to making customer journeys seamless, but it also motivates us further to achieve more.”

Panagiotoulias also congratulated thousands of member airline employees across the network and said, “The commitment and effort of every employee at Star Alliance and member airlines throughout a promising 2023 have culminated in this award. I proudly accept this honour on their behalf and commend them for their dedication. I encourage them to keep aiming for excellence this year and in the future.”

Star Alliance, the world’s first and largest airline alliance, represents a globally recognised brand committed to providing a seamless experience for its collective customer base. Dedicated to delivering a smoother journey, Star Alliance and its member airlines offer the widest network in the sky, along with benefits such as loyalty reciprocation, efficient baggage tracking, exclusive lounge access, and expedited gold track security clearance, among other perks.

The Star Alliance lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport opened its doors in October 2023 and quickly became a favourite among frequent flyers. This expansive 1,300 square meter facility is conveniently located in Terminal 1, offering exceptional runway views, a beautifully designed welcome bar, and an immersive wine section for an authentic French experience.

The Skytrax World Airline Awards, often dubbed, “the Oscars of the aviation industry”, celebrate their 25th year with a reputation for their unbiased international customer voting system. In 2024, a survey conducted from September 2023 to March 2024 garnered 21.42 million eligible entries from passengers of over 100 nationalities. This survey was offered in six major international languages.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said, “We congratulate Star Alliance on a fabulous double achievement at this year’s awards, winning the World’s Best Airline Alliance and the World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge categories. The latest Star Alliance lounge at Terminal 1, Paris CDG Airport has quickly established itself as a flagship facility and a customer favourite.”

In addition to the Alliance awards, 16 Star Alliance member airlines, including Air India and Vistara, received 47 top honours in individual categories—World’s Best First Class, Best Business Class Catering, and several best regional airline awards.

Finnair opens new Schengen Lounge in Helsinki

 

Finnair is enhancing its customer experience by opening a brand-new Finnair Lounge on July 9. Located on the Schengen side of Helsinki Airport, near gate 21, the lounge offers unparalleled comfort and convenience to travellers. The lounge is designed to provide more space and comfort before take-off, responding to feedback from Finnair Plus tier members.

The new lounge features an exclusive Finnair Platinum Corner for Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo members. It can be accessed by Business Class Classic and Flex ticket holders, as well as Finnair Plus Gold members.

Additionally, lounge access can be purchased as a travel extra during ticket booking, via Manage booking, or through the Finnair app.

The lounge has been designed to accommodate up to 440 guests, which is about 150 seats more than the current lounge. Different spaces within the lounge cater to various needs, including dining, working, resting, and spending time with travel companions. The design, led by Studio Joanna Laajisto, captures the essence of the Nordics, with peaceful, natural, and inviting elements such as wooden textures, soft forms, and warm colors.

The lounge also features furniture from renowned Nordic design brands, adding a touch of local craftsmanship.

The new lounge offers spectacular views of the runway and the airport gate area. This enhanced lounge experience is part of Finnair’s ongoing efforts to improve customer satisfaction and provide a more comfortable and enjoyable travel experience for its passengers.

India Stays Firm Amid China’s Push to Resume Passenger Flights After Four-Year Pause

China is urging India to resume direct passenger flights after a hiatus of four years, but New Delhi is hesitant due to ongoing tensions stemming from a border dispute, officials revealed.

Relations between India and China have been strained since a major military clash in June 2020 resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers, marking the most significant confrontation in decades along their disputed Himalayan border. Despite ongoing negotiations, both sides have maintained large troop deployments.

Following the clash, India has imposed restrictions on Chinese investment, banned numerous popular apps, and suspended passenger flight connections, although direct cargo flights between the two countries continue to operate.

Direct flights would benefit both economies, but the stakes are higher for China, where a recovery in overseas travel after the Covid-19 pandemic is lagging, while India’s aviation sector booms.

Several times over the past year or so, China’s government and airlines have asked India’s civil aviation authorities to re-establish direct air links, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, with one saying China considers this a “big issue”.

“We hope the Indian side will work with China in the same direction for the early resumption of direct flights,” China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters in a statement last week, adding that resuming flights would be in both countries’ interests.

But a senior Indian official familiar with India-China bilateral developments said of Beijing’s desire to resume flights, “Unless there is peace and tranquillity on the border, the rest of the relationship cannot move forward.”

Indian airlines are holding discussions with New Delhi, while Chinese carriers are talking to their government about resuming direct routes, CEO Pieter Elbers of IndiGo, India’s largest airline, told Reuters. (Source: The Hindu Business Line)

Finnair to Open Expansive New Lounge at Helsinki Airport’s Schengen Area on July 09

Finnair is further enhancing its customer experience with the upcoming launch of its new Finnair Lounge on July 9th. Situated on the Schengen side of Helsinki Airport, close to gate 21, the lounge aims to offer travellers unmatched comfort and convenience.

“We are delighted to announce the opening of our new Schengen lounge, providing even more space and comfort before take-off. Responding to the feedback from Finnair Plus tier members, the lounge features also an exclusive Finnair Platinum Corner for Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo members to enjoy,” said Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair.

The new Finnair Business Lounge can be accessed by Business Class Classic and Flex ticket holders, and Finnair Plus Gold members. Lounge access can also be purchased as a travel extra during ticket booking, via Manage booking, or through the Finnair app.

“With increased space, the new Finnair Lounge comfortably accommodates up to 440 guests, which is about 150 seats more than the current lounge. Different spaces within the lounge are tailored to various needs: dining, working, resting and spending time with your travel companions,” said Meri Järvinen, Head of Airport Customer Experience.

The lounge’s design, led by Studio Joanna Laajisto, captures the essence of the Nordics: peaceful, natural, and inviting. Wooden textures, soft forms, and warm colours reflect the Finnish landscape’s serenity. Furniture from renowned Nordic design brands, such as Artek, Nikari, and Gubi, adds a touch of local craftsmanship to the setting. The new lounge offers spectacular views of the runway and the airport gate area.

Air India Launches Flying School Initiative in India

According to a report in The Economic Times, Air India is establishing a school in Amravati, Maharashtra, to address an anticipated pilot shortage by training approximately 180 pilots annually. The full-time school will welcome aspiring pilots without prior flying experience, offering a direct pathway to Air India’s cockpit upon completion of subsequent training stages. This move signifies a significant strategic shift, diverging from the practice of major carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet, which typically rely on branded training programs affiliated with independent flight schools both in India and abroad. IndiGo, for example, collaborates with seven flight schools, while Air India has chosen around 30 single-engine and four multiengine aircraft from American company Piper and European manufacturer Diamond.

“Air India wants to be in control of the supply of the next generation of pilots. The school will be a critical part of the national carrier’s long-term talent pipeline,” a person familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity. “The second reason is that the airline wants to ensure quality of training. The quality of training in flying schools in India leaves a lot of gaps, forcing students to go abroad.” The Tata Group-owned airline has placed an order for 470 air craft and CEO Campbell Wilson has said one new aircraft will be inducted every six days in 2024. The government is pushing to promote commercial pilot training within India as more than 40% students go abroad for training, which costs Rs 1.5-2 crore per candidate.

Initially focused on meeting Air India’s internal needs, the school also presents future potential for external training services, as perceived by the Tata Group. Additionally, Air India has established its own training center in Gurugram, in collaboration with Airbus and US-based L3Harris, equipped with six simulators. This facility provides type-rated and recurrent training for its pilots. As per aviation training regulations, aspiring pilots must first undergo training to obtain a pilot’s license. Subsequently, type-rated training is required to gain proficiency in operating specific aircraft types like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, securing the necessary license endorsements.

Recurrent training is required annually to ensure that the pilot retains the necessary licence endorsements. Sunil Bhaskaran, the managing director of Air India Aviation Academy, is overseeing the setting up of the airline’s training infrastructure.

IndiGo shifts international operations to terminal 3 at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow

IndiGo has announced that all its international flights will arrive and depart from terminal 3 at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow. This came into effect from June 19.

IndiGo has announced that all international flights operating from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport will arrive and depart from the newly built terminal 3, starting from 06:00 hrs on June 19, 2024.

IndiGo has taken proactive measures to ensure that passengers are well-informed about this change. The airline is reaching out to all passengers and their respective travel agents through SMS, calls, and emails. To avoid any inconvenience, IndiGo has advised passengers to retrieve their PNR on the airline’s website or mobile app to check their terminal before heading to the airport.

IndiGo remains committed to providing an affordable, on-time, courteous, and hassle-free travel experience across its unparalleled network.