Cruising Heights Magazine - April 2025

In this issue

April 2025

ELEVATING AIRPORT PERFORMANCE

India’s aviation sector is grappling with efficiency and punctuality challenges as passenger numbers soar, though innovations like Al and Digi Yatra are paving the way for smoother operations

8 mins

AMRAVATI AIRPORT'S TAKE-OFF: A NEW CHAPTER FOR MAHARASHTRA?

Airports around the globe have focused on the development of Multi-Modal Transport Hubs (MMTH) to ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience. Indian airports, particularly those in Bengaluru and Delhi, have rapidly embraced this international trend. RASHEED KAPPAN dissects this trend and how it helps passengers get in and out of airports.

6 mins

HINDON AIRPORT LANDS IN COURT

First, it was Jewar, and now it is Hindon Airport. Slowly, but surely the Ministry of Civil Aviation is all assurances and agreements into the dustbin as it recrafts the airports configuration in the NCR region. It’s no surprise that GMR, operators of Delhi Airport (DIAL), have chosen to go to court to sort out the matter once and for all considering they have the most lose with all this flip-flop.

9 mins

INDIGO'S STRATEGIC GAMBLE WITH LONG-HAUL LEAP

IndiGo's direct long haul into Europe will shake up the market as never before. It will impact rival Air India and the Middle Eastern carriers. But one has to wait to see if the strong 6E connections into Europe and westwards will indeed work.

9 mins

INSPECTION INSIGHT

Use of drones for maintenance inspections on commercial aircraft will improve aircraft availability for airlines

9 mins

SUSTAINABLE MOMENTUM

Zero-emission aviation is moving ahead with several concepts nearing maturity

8 mins

FRACTIONAL JET OWNERSHIP SOARS

Fractional jet ownership is gaining traction in India, fuelled by government support and a luxury market projected to hit $200 billion by 2030, with companies like IndiaJets leading the way despite regulatory hurdles

7 mins

IN-FLIGHT DELIGHT

The use of Augmented Reality devices could transform the in-flight experience in the future, highlights MIKE RAJKUMAR

5 mins

LEGACY SYSTEMS CONTINUE IN AIR CARGO

India's air cargo sector is booming, with Unit Load Devices (ULDs) playing a vital role in meeting rising demand fuelled by cargo growth and airline expansions, despite challenges with legacy systems and ULD management inefficiencies

6 mins

Airbus commitments for 118 helicopters

Airbus Helicopters wraps up the 2025 edition of VERTICON with 118 commitments, including 63 firm orders, from customers worldwide for a variety of its multi-mission helicopters.

2 mins

Air India Inaugurates Centre of Digital Innovation

Air India, has announced the inauguration of its newly created Air India Centre of Digital Innovation (CODi) in Kochi.

2 mins

Air India Showcases Its First Retrofitted Aircraft

Air India welcomed its first retrofitted narrowbody aircraft, VT-EXN (A320neo aircraft), back into operations - marking an important milestone in the airline's transformation journey.

1 min

ATR ANNOUNCES NEW ORDER OF ATR 72-600F

ATR, the leading manufacturer aircraft worldwide, ATR A regional aircraft announced a major contract with FedEx Corp., the the world's largest express transportation provider, for the acquisition of 10 ATR 72-600F.

1 min

Air New Zealand and Air India enter new codeshare partnership

Atar Alliance Partners Air New Zealand and Air India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of boosting air connectivity between India and New Zealand.

3 mins

Boeing, Learning Links Foundation Skill-up Students

Boeing India and the Learning Links Foundation (LLF) announced the completion of the third batch of graduates from their industrial training program in aerospace manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh. With a fourth batch underway, this youth skilling program will train a total of 127 students by April 2025.

1 min

Global 7500 Business Jet Achieves 100th Speed Record

Bombardier announced in first week of March that its industry-leading Global 7500 business jet has achieved the ultimate performance milestone: setting a category-leading 100 speed records.

2 mins

MIAL to Modernise Ageing Infrastructure

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), operator of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is taking a strategic step to transform passenger amenities for a harmonious and streamlined experience.

3 mins

Embraer adds Fly Across MRO

Embraer has added Fly Across MRO to its Authorized Service provide base maintenance for the Phenom and Praetor series at the Toluca International Airport.

1 min

Deutsche Aircraft officially appoints Patricia Ferrari

Deutsche Aircraft has announced the official appointment of Patricia Ferrari as Vice President of Supply Chain. Ferrari will lead and manage the supply chain organisation, working closely with strategic partners to ensure exceptional quality and efficiency while accelerating the transition to more sustainable aviation. Her appointment follows the departure of Maximilian D. Fahr.

1 min

Embraer CEO Visits Warsaw

Embraer, a global leader in the aerospace industry, active in both commercial and defense, plans to make Poland a center of excellence in Europe. Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer, visited Poland this month with a senior commercial and defense team, engaging with existing, new, and potential partners in the following areas: manufacturing, final assembly, maintenance and repair, passenger-to-freight conversions, research & development and eVTOLs.

3 mins

Embraer's dedicated Global Leasing and Freighter team

Embraer Commercial Aviation has formed a dedicated Global Leasing and Freighter team as it continues to strengthen its strategic position in the cargo and leasing markets.

1 min

Eve Air Mobility and Ul Helicopter Collaborate

Eve Air Mobility, a company dedicated to fostering Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) globally, and UI Helicopter, South Korea's leading helicopter operator and maintenance provider, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cultivate the industry's ecosystem in South Korea.

1 min

IG Drones Wins IESA Technovation National Best Startup Award

IG Drones, India's leading drone manufacturing and solutions provider, has won the prestigious IESA Technovation Best StartUp Award in the 'Electronics Product Category-Drones' to drive advanced design-led innovations and strengthen the country's semiconductor ecosystem at the 19th IESA Vision Summit 2025-Gujarat Semiconnect, held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from March 5-7.

3 mins

Thales new avionics MRO centre in Gurugram

Thales opened its new avionics MRO facility in Gurugram, near the New Delhi airport.

2 mins

Thales and Malaysia Airlines Sign Avionics Component Availability and Repair Agreement

Thales and Malaysia Airlines have signed a long-term services agreement for Thales avionics products onboard the Airline's A330neo fleet.

1 min

No more stalking in the air!

For many years, monitoring the private flights of billionaires and celebrities had become a pastime for internet detectives and aviation aficionados.

1 min

Read all stories from Cruising Heights

Cruising Heights Magazine Description:

CRUISING HEIGHTS is India's best known monthly aviation magazine with equal interests in air cargo, travel and tourism. In its four years of existence, Cruising Heights has received accolades from the Minister of Civil Aviation, Aviation CEOs, Airport Developers, Travel Agents Associations and others for its path-breaking stories.One of the first true aviation magazines of the country, Cruising Heights was started with the idea of supporting professionals in the airline business to make informed choices on a variety of subjects from ground handling to cargo to airport development-all of which are transforming the Indian aviation scene in mind-boggling ways. Later, due to the interest it generated and in response to demands from the travel and tourism industry stakeholders we have targeted the general reader-the educated Indian who is keen to be an informed Indian-to know what's happening in the business.