July 18, 2024News

New Air India A320Neo Enters Service Earlier Than Expected

Passengers who booked Air India’s AI813 Delhi-Bengaluru flight for July 18, 2024, were in for a surprise. They boarded the airline’s new A320neo aircraft, sporting the new livery and upgraded interiors. The jet in question arrived in Delhi from Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France, earlier this month. Bearing the registration number VT-RTN, the narrowbody jet was expected to enter service in August 2024. It’ll do at least three more runs between Delhi and Bengaluru today.

Air India’s new A320neo boasts a three-class cabin configuration. Eight seats are in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy and 132 in Economy. Business Class passengers get a seat with a 40-inch pitch, 7 inches of recline, leg rest, footrest, movable armrest and four-way adjustable headrest. They also have an electrically deployable and extendable tray table, a holder for personal electronic devices (PED), and a dedicated AC socket.

In Premium Economy, a first for Air India in the domestic market, passengers get a 32-inch seat pitch with four inches of recline, a four-way adjustable headrest, and a PED holder. Those travelling in the Economy section have a 28-29-inch seat pitch, a 4-inch recline, a PED holder, and a coat hook. Every seat across the three cabin classes comes with a USB charging port.

Rachit Shad Trehan

Warning! Can talk cars for hours.

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September 16, 2024

Air India Is Now Flying To Kuala Lumpur From Delhi

Further strengthening its network in Southeast Asia, Air India has begun direct services to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Delhi. The first outbound flight took off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport on September 15, 2024, and the return leg completed its journey earlier today.

Air India’s service between Delhi and Kuala Lumpur is a daily affair. Flight AI384 will depart from Delhi and arrive in Malaysia’s capital at 13:00 and 21:00, respectively. Those travelling the other way will board flight AI385, which will take off from Kuala Lumpur at 08:30 and land in Delhi at 11:25. An Airbus A320neo will ferry passengers on both sectors.

Kuala Lumpur is Air India’s sixth destination in Southeast Asia. The airline already has active services from India to Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon.

Also Read: Air India Confirms More Flights To Kolkata From Four Cities

September 16, 2024

Brussels Airlines Plans To Focus More On Traffic From Africa

The Belgian national airline, Brussels Airlines, has announced its plans to expand its long-haul fleet, invest in cabin refurbishment, and utilise the services of another carrier based on the recently extended wet lease agreement with Lufthansa Group.

Brussels Airlines claims to be the “Africa expert” within the Lufthansa Group. To further strengthen that position, the carrier will induct three Airbus A330 aircraft, bringing its widebody fleet to 13. This move will help the airline focus primarily on the increasing traffic from the sub-Saharan Africa network. The idea is to make Brussels a European hub for flights to and from Africa.

Of course, with the new aeroplanes coming in, more manpower will be required. Hence, Brussels Airlines will hire over 250 new employees, including pilots, cabin crew, maintenance & engineering experts, and airport and office personnel. This also paves the way for present airline staff to move to a different or higher role.

In addition to inducting new aircraft, the Belgian carrier plans to gradually introduce all-new cabin interiors. While specific details are still under wraps, a complete overhaul of all three classes – Business, Premium Economy and Economy – is part of the plan. The airline says this project will attract an investment of more than 100 million euros.

Lastly, Brussels Airlines will operate four Airbus A220-300 aircraft with Latvian carrier airBaltic between March and October 2025. Each aircraft has 148 seats, and they will be deployed on routes with lower demand.