Page 16 - AAA January / February 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

number of domestic passengers India, before it was acquired by was merged with Air India in
growing at a CAGR of 14.5% Tata Group in January 2022. 2007, had placed orders for 43
between 2014 to 2020, increas- Since taking over the carrier, the A320ceo family jetliners in 2006.
ing from 60 million to 143 million. Tata Group has moved to swiftly
The domestic cargo volumes revive the ailing airline, culmi- Air India received the first of 20
handled by Indian airports in the nating in large aircraft orders Airbus new A350-900 jetliners
15 years leading to FY 2019 has and a new global brand identity in December 2023, making it
increased by 60% while inter- and aircraft livery, unveiled in the the first A350 operator in India.
national cargo volumes have latter half of 2023. The carrier is slated to receive
increased by 53%. five more aircraft by March and
In 2023, Air India finalised orders the first aircraft began operat-
Regional air travel has also with Airbus and Boeing for 470 ing on domestic routes for crew
received a boost under the aircraft, in what marked its first familiarisation in January, with
Government’s scheme RCS- major fleet revival in decades. international operations slated to
UDAN scheme, which has Airbus bagged orders for 140 being by the middle of this year.
resulted in 76 airports being A320neos, 70 A321neos, 34
operationalised in Tier-3 and A350-1000s and six A350-900s; Air India’s A350-900s feature
Tier-4 Indian cities and other in addition to Boeing sealing a three-class cabin configura-
remote corners of the nation orders for 190 737 MAXs, 20 tion with 316 seats designed by
787 Dreamliners and 10 777Xs. Collins Aerospace: 28 private
“Over the past 6 years, Air India had last placed a major Business Class suites with full-
UDAN has unlocked order nearly two decades ago, flat beds, 24 Premium Economy
seats and 264 Economy Class
when under Government own-
the true potential ership it had placed orders with seats, all of which are fitted with
of our country by Boeing for 27 787s, 15 777- Panasonic’s latest-generation
promoting tourism, 300ERs, eight 777-200 LRs and eX3 In-Flight Entertainment

boosting trade, and 18 737-800s. The state-owned system and HD screens.
carrier Indian Airlines, which
empowering local
economies. airstrips
and airports languish-
ing since 2nd World

War have been trans-
formed under this
scheme and are now
giving wings to flyers
in the remotest parts
of the country,”

Scindia said. The Ministry of
Civil Aviation has awarded 1300
UDAN routes to Indian carriers
with 517 routes operationalized.

Airline Revival

If there was one emblem of the
decline of Indian commercial
aviation, it would have to be the
troubled state-owned carrier Air

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