Indigo

Low-Cost carrier GoAir has become the 6^th domestic airline to fly international skies with the launch of its inaugural flight from New Delhi to Phuket.

The inaugural flight (G8 031), with 182 passengers on board, was given a ceremonial flag off for Phuket in Thailand at 1 a.m. on Thursday from Indira Gandhi International Airport.

GoAir’s first international service took place on an Airbus A320 Neo aircraft. The airline will provide direct flights, two times a week between New Delhi – Phuket and three times a week between Mumbai – Phuket.

According to the CEO of GoAir, Mr. Cornelis Vrieswijk, The launch of their first service to Phuket represents another step of transition from a domestic carrier to a global airline for GoAir.

He went on to say that Phuket is a key market in India and holds a significant base for business and tourism and they are delighted to include Phuket in GoAir’s new global network.

Besides the national carrier Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express, private carriers Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet also fly internationally.

GoAir became eligible to fly overseas two years ago when it took delivery of its 20th aircraft, which was also the first Airbus A320 Neo for the airline.

The airline currently operates over 1,544 weekly flights across 23 domestic destinations with a fleet of 38 Airbus A320 planes, including 19 A320 Neos.

GoAir, which launched its domestic operations in November 2005, was granted rights in August 2016 to operate to nine countries, including China, Vietnam, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, among others.

Passengers on the Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Jaipur had to suffer a nightmarish situation when the cabin pressure suddenly dropped mid-air.

More than 30 passengers felt dizzy, suffered nosebleeds and headaches. According to reports, the crew forgot to flick a switch that helps regulate cabin air pressure causing injury to passengers.

During a climb, the crew forgot to switch on the ‘Bleed Switch’ due to which cabin’s pressure could not be maintained. As a result, oxygen masks got deployed.

The Boeing 737 aircraft returned to Mumbai due to “loss of cabin pressure”. The pilots have been taken off duty and are  pending investigation.

There were 166 passengers and 5 crew members on board flight 9W 697. Of these, 144 passengers of the original flight travelled to Jaipur via an alternative flight of Jet Airways, while the other 17 refused to travel with them.

Five guests, who were referred to a hospital for additional medical check-up accompanied by the Jet Airways’ Care team, have since been released following a medical examination.

Why Cabin Pressure Matters

When at higher altitudes, it is important to maintain certain parameters within the cabin for passenger comfort. These include temperature, humidity, air circulation and cabin pressure.

The human body cannot endure an environment above certain altitudes and start reacting above 10,000 ft. It leads to various effects. Gases in the ear, sinuses and digestive tracts start to expand, causing bleeding from the ears and nose.

If cabin pressure is not stabilized it can cause catastrophic damage to the human body. Thankfully, all passengers are free from harm and are safe.

The airline will continue to offer necessary medical care and attention to the concerned guests as required. Jet Airways is also extending full cooperation to the Directorate General Of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the ongoing investigation of the event.