It was in August this year when Air India, now under the ownership of the Tata Group, unveiled its new brand identity. Now, the new logo and the branding have begun taking their place in the carrier’s world. For instance, the official website has been revamped, and accompanied by it is a new mobile application. Similarly, the airline’s social media profiles have been updated with the new brand identity. Soon, travellers from Delhi and Mumbai airports will see Air India’s new branding at various touchpoints, including check-in counters, lounges, boarding gates and boarding cards. In the weeks that follow, the same will be extended to the airline’s global network.

The new Air India livery will first feature on the brand-new Airbus A350, units of which will start joining the carrier’s fleet in December 2023. These are part of the massive aircraft order, worth USD 70 billion, that Air India placed with Airbus and Boeing earlier this year. The airline has also inked a USD 400 million contract to refurbish 43 widebody jets. Work on that begins in the middle of next year. Once completed, the jets will have new seats in all cabins, new inflight entertainment systems and Wi-Fi connectivity. With the new aircraft, Air India’s new uniforms for the cabin crew and the pilots will also debut.

Also Read: 400 New Air India Aeroplanes To Have These Engines

Qantas Group, Australia’s national carrier, has taken delivery of an Airbus A220 jet. It is the first of the 29 on order. It will be operated by QantasLink, the Group’s regional airline that serves metropolitan and other regional destinations nationwide.

The A220 will replace the existing 717 fleet, which is part of the regional carrier’s fleet. The Airbus A220 promises twice the range and can fly between any two points across Australia without stopping. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, the single-aisle jet can fly up to 3,450 nautical miles (6,390km). At the same time, it provides 25 per cent savings in fuel and carbon emissions over the previous-gen aircraft.

The Airbus A220 for QantasLink has 137 seats, 127 in Economy and 10 in Business Class. And like all Airbus aircraft, the A220 can operate with up to 50 per cent SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel). By 2030, the manufacturer aims to have its entire product portfolio capable of flying on 100 per cent SAF.

Also Read: Turkish Airlines Orders 220 Airbus Planes

After placing an order for 10 A350-900s in September 2023 and 4 A350-900s in July 2023, Turkish Airlines has ordered an additional 220 Airbus aircraft. The latest order comprises 150 A321s and 70 from the A350 family (50 A350-900s, 15 A350-1000s, 5 A350F freighters). All put together, Turkey’s flag carrier’s order book with Airbus stands at 504 aircraft, of which 212 have been delivered.

The Airbus A321neo is the largest jet in the manufacturer’s A320neo family. To date, more than 5,600 specimens have been delivered to over 100 carriers worldwide. On the other hand, the A350-900 and A350-1000 are the flagship long-haul offerings from Airbus. They can carry between 300 and 410 passengers for up to 9,700 nautical miles, equating to approximately 17,964 kilometres. By the end of November 2023, Airbus had received 1,072 orders for the A350 family aircraft. Also, the order book for the A350F freighter, launched at Dubai Airshow two years ago, stands at 50.

São Paulo-based carrier Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, a.k.a Azul Brazilian Airlines (or Azul), has disclosed an incremental order for four Airbus A330neos. More specifically, it is for four additional A330-900 jets from an agreement inked in June this year. The aircraft is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. Depending on the load, it can cover up to 7,200 nautical miles (13,300km) nonstop.

Azul started operations back in 2008. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest carriers in its home country. It serves over 160 destinations within Brazil and across the United States, Europe and other South American countries. In 2019, Azul received the America’s first Airbus A330neo aircraft. Presently, it operates 12 jets from the A330 family.

Also Read: Airbus Delivers First A350-1000 To Japan Airlines