Dubai-based Emirates says its cargo business is booming. To meet the surge in demand for its services, the world’s largest international airline has decided to place another order for 777 Freighters with Boeing. This order is in addition to a similar one from earlier this year, making the new one the second aircraft deal between the two parties.

The latest order brings Emirates’ order book to 249 Boeing planes, including 14 777 Freighters. The airline aims to have 21 aircraft of this type serving its SkyCargo arm in the coming years. Presently, it has 11 cargo aeroplanes in its fleet.

With a range of up to 9,200km and a cargo capacity of 102 tonnes, the Boeing 777 Freighter offers the most nonstop flying distance and freight volume in the twin-engine jet space. 

Finland’s national carrier, Finnair, has shared an update regarding its summer schedule for next year. The carrier has chosen seven cities across the USA, Japan and China, where it will operate extra weekly services during the summer of 2025.

In the USA, Finnair will increase the weekly flight count to Chicago up to a daily affair. To Dallas, where the airline flew five weekly services in the summer of 2024, it will operate 11 weekly services. Similarly, the airline has planned two additional weekly flights to Seattle and Los Angeles next summer.

Over To Japan. Finnair has announced four weekly services to Nagoya, up from three, during next summer. Another Japanese destination the Finnish airline has chosen is Osaka, which hosts the World Expo 2025. A daily service to Osaka has been confirmed.

Lastly, the airline will fly an additional weekly flight to Shanghai, bringing the weekly count to four next summer.

Starting October 27, 2024, Air India will begin operating direct flights to London Heathrow from Bengaluru. This service, which will be operated using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, will replace Karnataka’s current direct connection with the English capital, Bengaluru, with London Gatwick. Also, that route operated five times weekly and joined the airline’s schedule earlier this year. The new route will be a daily affair.

The aircraft in question will boast a two-class configuration featuring 18 flatbeds in the Business Class section and 238 seats in Economy. The outbound flight—AI133—will depart from Bengaluru at 14:20 and arrive in London at 19:30. The return leg—AI134—will leave from London and land in Bengaluru at 21:05 and 12:20 the next day respectively. Once established, the new route will complement Air India’s London Heathrow connections from Mumbai and Delhi. The airline operates 31 weekly flights to London Heathrow from those two metros.

Regarding its link with London Gatwick, the carrier will continue to operate 12 weekly flights from four Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa and Kochi.

NOTE: The image above is for representational purposes only.

It isn’t a secret that Air India and Vistara will merge into one bigger, stronger airline under the new ownership. In fact, the amalgamation process is almost complete. One question that eludes the Vistara fans is what will happen to the services and experiences they’ve come to like and enjoy over the years? Well, Air India has answered.

Post-merger, Air India will operate the Vistara aircraft with a four-digit AI code beginning with ‘2’. For instance, the UK955 flight will become AI2955. This process will help travellers identify the aircraft after November 12, 2024. Air India says that the routes and schedule operated by Vistara aircraft will remain intact, along with in-flight experience, including the products and services like menu and cutlery. The same crew will serve passengers.

Lastly, the existing Club Vistara membership will be transferred to Air India’s Flying Returns program. Once completed, Flying Returns will take a new avatar—‘Maharaja Club’. And let’s not forget that the merged entity will offer a stronger worldwide network, with connections to more than 90 domestic and international destinations. The count surpasses 800 via codeshare and interline partners.

Also Read: Air India Wins Big At World Travel Awards 2024