[condor]

Campbell Wilson, founding CEO of Scoot to be new boss of Air India:

https://www.rediff.com/business/repo...o/20220512.htm

[.sushilkumar]

Looks like things are moving finally at Air India. It was a Known fact that AI need to invest in new long haul fleet and what a way to start it

I am hoping with this move, they will be able to service almost all major airports in US and get rid of old B777. For AIRBUS, this will be a sweet deal as it's their first A350 order from any airline in India. Kudos to Airbus IMO. If I remember correctly last wide body operator for Airbus was Jet airways with their A330's.

Source- https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/bu...3-8692541.html

The Tata Group-owned Air India has decided to procure its maiden batch of wide-bodied A350 aircraft of Airbus and the first plane is likely to be delivered to the airline by March 2023, sources said on Wednesday.

However, it was not immediately clear how many A350 aircraft will be purchased by Air India. Air India has not bought a single aircraft since 2006 when it had placed orders for purchasing 111 aircraft — 68 from the US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing and 43 from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

A wide-bodied plane like Airbus A350 has a bigger fuel tank that allows it to travel longer distances such as India-US routes. The Tata Group took control of Air India on January 27 after successfully winning the bid for the airline on October 8 last year.

[dragracer567]

Originally Posted by .sushilkumar

Looks like things are moving finally at Air India. It was a Known fact that AI need to invest in new long haul fleet and what a way to start it

I am hoping with this move, they will be able to service almost all major airports in US and get rid of old B777. For AIRBUS, this will be a sweet deal as it's their first A350 order from any airline in India. Kudos to Airbus IMO. If I remember correctly last wide body operator for Airbus was Jet airways with their A330's.

Source- https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/bu...3-8692541.html

Also, it's partial luck. It seems that the first lot of A350s will be inducted as early as the first quarter of 2023 as Airbus already has around 22 fully built A350s which could be diverted to Air India. Moreover, there are some aircraft built for Qatar Airways which won't be delivered due to the dispute between the airline and the manufacturer that could be diverted as well.

It seems Air India has already issued a notification to it's pilots who are willing to do conversion training into the A350s which means that the purchase is pretty much confirmed. Media reports also seem to indicate that Air India is in talks to purchase 100 A321 NEOs.

And yes, these will be the first Airbus widebody in India since the Jet Airways A330s.

[blackasta]

First step towards consolidation - Air India receives go ahead to buy out the TATA group's stake in Air Asia India. Next in line I believe is to get the remaining % from AirAsia Berhad

https://www.business-standard.com/ar...1401393_1.html

[turbospooler]

Looking at the (planned) fleet of Air India and that of Vistara, it seems like a merger or takeover now seems unlikely.
Vistara operates Boeing's 787 while Air India has chosen the A350s.

I was thinking AI would continue with the B777 or even the B777x and then AI+Vistara combo would be Boeing in long range and Airbus in short range.

Of course, different fleet doesn't mean that a merger is unlikely in the future, but the synergies in maintenance, crew deployment and training activities become expensive.

[.sushilkumar]

Originally Posted by turbospooler

Looking at the (planned) fleet of Air India and that of Vistara, it seems like a merger or takeover now seems unlikely.
Vistara operates Boeing's 787 while Air India has chosen the A350s.

I was thinking AI would continue with the B777 or even the B777x and then AI+Vistara combo would be Boeing in long range and Airbus in short range.

Of course, different fleet doesn't mean that a merger is unlikely in the future, but the synergies in maintenance, crew deployment and training activities become expensive.

I do see AI+ Vistara merger in medium to long term at least. Barring long haul, both have their short haul fleet dominated by Airbus with few Old 9W Boeing's in use by Vistara. Both Boeing & Airbus are facing challenges with diff being that Boeing is under regulatory scanner for overall fleet while airbus have problem of plenty in narrow bodies. Vistara is already struggling to get Dreamliner deliveries which leaves only A350 as capable with ULH flights. Perhaps, Vistara too can get rid of their 2 Dreamliner's & move entirely to a A350 Fleet or both together use Dreamliner's + A350 for long haul With AI getting rid of 777's.

On other side, There is speculation that AI is getting ready to place order for 300 + Narrow body jets too. Considering long wait time for A320 family, Seems like Boeing will get much needed boost in it's books after Akasa. I am sure Airbus will try everything to get this. They already are planning to ramp up prod for A320 family to 75 Aircrafts a month by next year or 2024.

[turbospooler]

Originally Posted by blackasta

First step towards consolidation - Air India receives go ahead to buy out the TATA group's stake in Air Asia India. Next in line I believe is to get the remaining % from AirAsia Berhad

Would Air Asia operate with its own AOC (Air Operator's Certificate) or subsume under Air India, only time will tell.

But if they subsume, we get 25kg baggage on Air Asia flights like the Air India ones!

[V.Narayan]

Indigo misses on time performance on about half its flights

https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/tops...omMaestro=true

Looks like an Air India walk-in interview programme saw a substantial number of Indigo's flight and cabin crew taking short notice casual leave and trooping off for the Air India interviews. Not sure whether to laugh or bang my head! Free competition in all its glory.

Apparently Indigo staff are unhappy about salaries not being restored to pre-Covid19 levels. At this rate pilots and cabin staff laid off in 2020 can expect fresh employment offers.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Looks like an Air India walk-in interview programme saw a substantial number of Indigo's flight and cabin crew taking short notice casual leave and trooping off for the Air India interviews.

OT: would this help if both Indigo and AI intend the fly the same type of aircraft? How feasible would it be for AI to hire pilots and then have them go through training + type rating / certification.

[sagarpadaki]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

OT: would this help if both Indigo and AI intend the fly the same type of aircraft? How feasible would it be for AI to hire pilots and then have them go through training + type rating / certification.

If I understood correctly, the interview was for cabin crew by AI and AI Express. Not the pilots. The lack of the minimum stipulated number of cabin crew per flight was the reason for delay

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

OT: would this help if both Indigo and AI intend the fly the same type of aircraft? How feasible would it be for AI to hire pilots and then have them go through training + type rating / certification.

If the pilot is type rated for the same aircraft it really helps as then after a few check flights at AI he can get into the AI cockpit and for Captains flying as co-pilot for some duration once again get into the left seat. If the switch is from A320 to B737 then the full type rating exercise should be gone through.

[.sushilkumar]

First step in fleet rationalisation.

Tata Group-owned Air India on Wednesday issued a tender to sell its three B777-200LR wide-bodied aircraft, which were manufactured in 2009.


https://m.economictimes.com/industry...w/93169928.cms

Another good news - CEO Designate Campbell Wilson received the security clearance from Govt. This was the last hurdle in his appointment.

[volkman10]

Singapore Airline's Disclosure to Singapore Stock Exchange: In confidential discussions with Tata Group for a potential integration of Vistara and Air India.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Singapore Airline's Disclosure to Singapore Stock Exchange: In confidential discussions with Tata Group for a potential integration of Vistara and Air India.

I was expecting this to happen, no point running two full service carriers in competition. Vistara being a fraction of the size of Air India was bound to be absorbed into AI. Both operating the A320 makes it even more seamless.

What happens with Air Asia India is something to see, that would be an interesting decision, at least for me.

[V.Narayan]

We read it in the news, we read it in Singapore Airlines' stock market filings and we hear of it constantly on the galley wireless - Air India + Vistara = full service carrier, Air India. And Air India Express + Air Asia India = Low cost carrier, Air India Express. Singapore Airlines it is said will retain a share in the first and most likely Air Asia will not be a part of the Air India Express. But I could be wrong about that last bit. It will be most interesting to see what valuations come up and at what ratio are shares exchanged.

India's track record with airline mergers, Air Sahara + Jet Airways and Kingfisher + Deccan, has been very poor due to both weak management and an interfering un-enlightened regulator. I hope it will be different this time. The employee culture gaps between Air India and Vistara are significant; will pose a challenge.

The next candidate crying for a takeover is Spicejet. Anyone willing to bid?

All told a very exciting time of fundamental change for Indian aviation not only due to Air India but also the Udaan schemes that are steadily taking passenger air connectivity to smaller towns across the country.