#boeing787

Originally published on Air Gazette by Greg Barlow.

Five inches of cabin width decides which economy seat you'd rather be stuck in for fourteen hours.

The A350 is wider inside, so economy seats run around 18 inches versus 17 to 17.5 on the 787. But the 787 fights back with the biggest windows in the sky and electrochromic dimming instead of shades.

Range favors the A350 hard: 8,500nm on the 900 versus 7,635 nm on the 787-9, and the gap only grows at the top end. That's why Qatar can fly Doha to Auckland on an A350-1000 when no 787 can make that route.

Boeing 787-10 Saudia

Registration: HZ-AR32 Type: 787-10 Engines: 2 × GE GEnx-1B74/75 Serial Number: 40055 First flight: Jan 27, 2022

In 2023, Landor – now operating as Landor & Fitch – completed one of its most unusual aviation projects: the rebranding of Saudi Arabia's national carrier, Saudia. What made it unusual was not what was invented, but what was rediscovered: the agency's team, immersed in the airline's archives, concluded that the best course of action was to go back.

Landor & Fitch built the new visual identity around the principle of a "better past." Working in close collaboration with the Saudia team, the agency examined the brand's entire history, and the starting point became the 1972 livery – the same one the airline had revisited when celebrating its 75th anniversary. That livery was recognized as the purest expression of the carrier's identity and was given a new life in a reinterpreted form.

The three colors of the new brand identity – green, blue, and sand – were chosen to reflect Saudi culture and its deeply held values. The airline's emblem, featuring two crossed swords and a date palm, was reworked: the lines were softened and the image made to feel more open and welcoming. According to Landor & Fitch Executive Creative Director Ryan Frost, the aviation branding industry suffers from pervasive sameness: everyone plays it safe, and as a result, everything ends up looking alike. For Saudia, the opposite approach was proposed – not to mimic global standards, but to speak the language of its own culture.

The rebrand encompassed every passenger touchpoint: from the livery and logo to cabin interiors, lounges, uniforms, and even a signature scent. A unique sonic identity was also created for the brand, blending traditional elements of Saudi music with contemporary motifs.

In the two years following the rebrand, Saudia's brand value grew by 80%, while passenger numbers and sales increased by more than 20%. Perhaps this is the most compelling argument that authenticity outperforms universality.

🔞 ✈️ Трагедия в Ахмедабаде: Boeing 787 рухнул после взлета 12 июня 2025 г. самолет Air India рейс AI171 (Ахмедабад → Лондон) потерпел крушение через минуту после взлета. На борту находились 242 человека: 230 пассажиров (включая 13 детей) и 12 членов экипажа. Лайнер упал на общежитие медицинского колледжа, что привело к жертвам и на земле. Погибло не менее 5 студентов, десятки ранены .

🔍 Ключевые детали: 1. Единственный выживший Гражданин Великобритании Рамеш Висвашкумар (40 лет) найден на месте 11А в эконом-классе. Он получил травмы груди и ног, но стабилен . 2. Состав пассажиров: - 169 граждан Индии, - 53 гражданина Великобритании, - 7 португальцев, - 1 канадец . 3. Причина крушения: Пилоты передали сигнал бедствия: «Нет тяги, нет набора высоты!». Самолет пропал с радаров на высоте 190 метров, рухнув в 1 км от аэропорта. Расследуются версии: - Техническая неисправность (в т.ч. проблемы с двигателями), - Ошибка экипажа (возможно, уборка закрылков вместо шасси), - Попадание птиц в двигатели . 4. Последствия на земле: Лайнер разрушил здание общежития. Спасатели извлекли 30–35 тел, в больницы доставлены 50–60 пострадавших студентов .

🌐 Международная реакция: - 🇮🇳 Нарендра Моди (премьер Индии): «Невыразимо больно...»: - 🇬🇧 Король Великобритании Карл III: «Глубоко потрясен...»; - 🇷🇺 Президент России Владимир Путин выразил соболезнования; - Boeing потерял 8% стоимости акций .

💬 Слова очевидца: Выживший Рамеш: «Через 30 секунд после взлета раздался грохот, затем падение» .

Ахмедабад #AirIndia #Boeing787 #AI171

Ссылки для помощи семьям жертв: Красный Крест Индии https://www.indianredcross.org)

ℹ️ Данные актуальны на 13.06.2025

Boeing 787-9 Air India (Vistara)

Registration: VT-TSE Type: 787-9 Engines: 2 × GE GEnx-1B Serial Number: 66527 First flight: Mar 22, 2022

Vistara was a full-service Indian airline based in Gurgaon with its hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The company was a joint venture between Tata Sons (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%), created with the ambitious goal of offering Indian travelers a premium air travel experience for high-class business travelers in India's civil aviation market.

The name "Vistara" derives from the Sanskrit word "Vistaar," meaning "boundless expanse." It reflected the company's philosophy – a commitment to continuous expansion and providing passengers with a sense of limitless freedom in flight. The airline began operations on January 9, 2015, with its first flight from Delhi to Mumbai, entering a market dominated by budget carriers.

From the very beginning, Vistara demonstrated outstanding performance metrics. In its first month of operation, the airline achieved an on-time departure rate of over 90% – the best among all Indian carriers. The company quickly gained popularity: within seven months of operation, half a million passengers had been transported.

Vistara became the first airline in India to offer premium economy class on domestic flights. The company's fleet consisted of modern Airbus A320 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which were used on international routes. The carrier operated over 30 routes, including international flights to Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, and London.

In November 2022, following Air India's return to Tata Group control, the merger of Vistara with Air India was announced. This integration was completed on November 12, 2024, when Vistara operated its final flight, transferring all operations to Air India. The merger created one of India's largest carriers with an expanded route network and modernized fleet, designed to compete in the global market. The Vistara aircraft that joined the Air India fleet temporarily retained their distinctive livery with purple and gold elements until the next scheduled maintenance and repainting in Air India's corporate colors.

Throughout its relatively short history, Vistara earned numerous awards for service quality and left a bright mark on the Indian aviation industry as a symbol of premium service.