Airliners-India.com

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

AI has an interline with JetBlue and JetBlue has excellent connections from JFK. Also Air Canada is leaving JFK also.

There are far more BOM-EWR passengers than from DEL and many choose that flight precisely because it is non stop. As far as the billboard issue, if GVK and AI really raise a stink they can succeed, but for some reason they are holding back.

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

Jeh · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:19 am Post subject:

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

luvleen · Member Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 179 Location: Bombay

MHA flags Air India's security gap

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mha-red-flags-air-india-s-hub-spoke-policy-116022800497_1.html

The_Goat · Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:07 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:07 pm Post subject:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/budget-2016-air-india-to-get-rs-1713-crore-against-demand-of-rs-4300-crore/articleshow/51192084.cms

Budget 2016: Air India to get Rs 1,713 crore against demand of Rs 4,300 crore

Feb 29, 2016

The government has announced to allocate Rs 1,713 crore for Air India to be infused as equity during the 2016-17 fiscal.

According to the Budget papers, the national carriers plan outlay for the fiscal has been pegged at Rs 2,065 crore.

This infusion is much lower than Air India expectations of Rs 4,300 crore for the fiscal. Of the total amount, the carrier had sought about Rs 3,300 crore from the government under the Turnaround Plan and backlog amount of around Rs 977 crore, which is mainly on account of steep appreciation in dollar against
the rupee.

Air India, which is saddled with debt of around Rs 40,000 crore and losses of over Rs 20,000 crore, is estimated to return to operational profit by the end of this fiscal.
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747-237 · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:53 pm Post subject:

http://thestandard.com.ph/business/200771/7-foreign-airlines-eye-flights-to-clark.html

7 foreign airlines eye flights to Clark

March 02, 2016

Clark International Corp. said Wednesday seven foreign airlines have expressed interest in establishing operations at the former US military airbase.

CIAC president Emigdio Tanjuatco III identified the seven airlines as Jet Star of Singapore, Thai Smile of Thailand, Rayani Air of Malaysia, Express Air of Indonesia, Air India, V-Air of Taiwan and Airline 4.0.
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747-237 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:36 am Post subject:

http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/air-india-operate-all-women-crew-flight-025

Air India to operate all-women crew flight

Mar 03, 2016

Two days prior to International Women’s Day on March 8, national carrier Air India will salute women power with the longest flying operation on the longest route. Official sources from the airline said that on March 6, an Air India flight will take off from Delhi to San Francisco, which is the longest flying route, with an all-women crew on board.

Sources informed The Asian Age that to commemorate International Women’s Day, all four pilots as well as the crew operating the Delhi to San Francisco flight will be women. Furthermore, the flight dispatcher and flight engineer will also be women. Line safety will be conducted by women and safety audit will be conducted under the chief of flight safety, Air India, Harpreet A.D. Singh. The cherry on the cake will be that load and trim staff of the flight too will be strictly women.

Ms Singh told this newspaper that while the airline celebrates International Women’s Day every year by deploying women crew, this is the first time that an all women crew will operate the longest flight and will also be rewarded after operation. Official sources said that while the airline operates a few flights with entirely female crew every year on International Women’s Day, this is the first time a complete cabin crew will be on board the longest flight route of the national carrier. To achieve the target, Air India is also working with the Indian Women’s Pilot Association.

To mark International Women’s Day last year, Air India operated four “all women crew” flights to international and domestic destinations, with one flown by two pilots who were also part of a similar feat way back in 1985. On the international network, two such flights that were operated were the Delhi-Melbourne and Mumbai-Muscat-Mumbai routes. While, AI806 Mumbai-Delhi and AI475 Delhi-Jodhpur-Mumbai were the flights operated by an all-women crew on domestic routes.

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747-237 · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:36 pm Post subject:

Air India plans to add new flights on Delhi-Washington and Ahmedabad-London-Newark route.

"We are launching flights between Delhi-Vienna, Ahmedabad-Newark, Delhi-Washington and additional frequencies on domestic routes such as Delhi-Pune, Mumbai-Indore,"

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/air-india-aims-to-reduce-loss-to-less-than-rs-2-000-cr-in-fy-17-116030401470_1.html
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Caliguy · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:08 pm Post subject:

I didn't read the article to say they are launching AMD-LHR-EWR. That flight would make zero sense when people can fly daily EWR-BOM-AMD. Now a 3X per week EWR-DEL-AMQ on peak days would probably make sense.
I think DEL-IAD is long over due. That said should be 4 time per week with 3X making people connect in JFK or ORD.

747-237 · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:33 pm Post subject:

http://www.firstpost.com/business/air-india-to-opt-for-business-economy-class-seats-in-a320-neos-2661446.html

Air India to opt for business, economy class seats in A320 neos

Mar 7, 2016

Buoyed by rising number of business travellers, Air India will opt for two-class seat configuration in the 14 Airbus 320 neo planes to be inducted into the fleet in the coming months.

Air India is reverting to the two-class configuration after more than four years when it had decided to do away with it amid economic slowdown.

A Kuwait-based leasing firm is to provide the A320 neos (new engine option) aircraft on dry lease basis starting early next year.

These planes with 160 seats will have a two-class configuration - 12 in business class and the rest 148 in economy category, a senior Air India official said.

The 14 A320 neos will also have more "seat pitch" or seat width, compared to other airlines, the official said.

Once the A-320 neos come in, the airline would phase out some of the existing A320s -- a number of which are as old as 26 years.

Air India has an Airbus fleet of 66 aircraft, comprising 24 A-320s, 20 A-321s and 22 A-319s.

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sabya99 · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:39 pm Post subject:

From Delhi to San Francisco, AI operates ‘world’s longest all-women flight’

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/from-delhi-to-san-francisco-ai-operates-worlds-longest-allwomen-flight/article8324001.ece?homepage=true

Air India on Monday said it flew the “world’s longest” all-women-operated flight from Delhi to San Francisco.
The flight, which travelled a distance of around 14,500 kilometre in close to 17 hours, was operated as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.
The non-stop Delhi-San Francisco flight took off from the national capital on March 6.
“This year for the first time, on the world’s longest non-stop flight, entire flight operations from cockpit crew to cabin crew, check-in staff, doctor, customer care staff, ATC (air traffic control) and the entire ground handling... were handled by women,” Air India said in a release.
Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani said it was a historic flight and “the longest operated by all-women crew”. “The airline has immense respect for women and it is a symbol of women empowerment,” he added.
The flight was under the command of Kshamta Bajpayee and Shubhangi Singh, along with First Officers Ramya Kirti Gupta and Amrit Namdhari.
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747-237 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 7:17 am Post subject:

Air India S16 Moscow Operation Changes as of 08MAR16

Air India in last week’s schedule update has made further revision to its Delhi – Moscow Domodedovo operation, effective 27MAR16.
During summer 2016 season, the Star Alliance member will operate 3 weekly flights, instead of previously planned 2 weekly.
This route was served up to 4 weekly in summer 2015.

AI155 DEL2030 – 0030+1DME 788 135
AI156 DME0130 – 1300DEL 788 246

Source: Airlineroute.net
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747-237 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 4:31 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:15 am Post subject:

http://www.traveldailymedia.com/233641/air-india-offers-passengers-paid-seat-selection/

Air India offers passengers paid seat selection

New service allows passengers to pay for extra legroom or front cabin seats

9th March, 2016

Air India has introduced the facility of advance seat selection in economy class on its long haul US-bound flights.

The available seats are identified by specific criteria including the extra leg-room and those located towards the front of the cabin, allowing passengers deplane faster upon arrival.

The airline charges an additional US$50 for preferred seat selection in economy class on US routes. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft flying to/from Newark, New York JFK and Chicago has a total of 36 preferred seats distributed across five rows, including the emergency exit row.

A total of 29 seats are available on B777-200LR aircraft flying to/from San Francisco. Passengers availing preferred seats in emergency exit rows should be valid, 12+ years old and cooperate with the crew in case of emergency evacuation.

The provision for advance seat selection will remain available up to 48 hours prior to departure. Passengers can make their payments in local currency at Air India booking offices or through the airline’s call centre. The scheme is not available for domestic passengers or other international flights.

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747-237 · Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 4:06 pm Post subject:

http://www.india.com/news/india/government-not-to-force-air-india-to-fly-to-unconnected-cities-1021352/

Government not to force Air India to fly to unconnected cities

March 10, 2016

Government today said it will not “force” Air India to flying to unconnected cities after a Congress member in Lok Sabha said it should ask the state-run carrier to do so if it was unable to push private airlines into it. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said Air India is coming out of losses because of the government’s “non-interference” policy and maintained that its job was to “facilitate and not compel” airline operations.

Raju made the remarks during Question Hour after a number of members raised the issue of lack of air connectivity to the regions they came from and Rajiv Satav (Cong) urged him to ask Air India to connect places like Nanded, a pilgrimage centre of the Sikhs. ”Air India is coming out of losses because of our non-interference. We won’t force them,” the Minister said. Raju, however, said the government from time to time gave suggestions to airlines and noted that in the draft civil aviation policy there is a proposal to connect unserved and unconnected airports under the Regional Connectivity Scheme.

“The details of the scheme including the action plan are being finalised… An indicative cost of Rs 50-100 crore has been envisaged in the budget speech for 2016-1017,” he said. ”The commencement of activity in these unconnected, unserved airports and airstrips depends on the willingness of the airlines and of the state governments to agree to the conditions of the scheme,” he said in a written reply.

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747-237 · Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 10:51 pm Post subject:

Subject: Change of Nomenclature from Executive Class to "BUSINESS CLASS"

Dear Sir/Madam

As per the approval from competent authority, henceforth the nomenclature used for different types of classes in Air India shall be only “First”, “Business” and “Economy”.
The same shall be applicable to both Domestic and International sectors.The usage of the term “Executive Class” is being discontinued. The existing stock of Boarding Cards shall continue to be used till New Boarding Cards with revised nomenclature are made available.Request to please disseminate this information to all concerned under your jurisdiction please.

Regards//

Aditya Mathur

Dy. General Manager (C-TS)
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Manish Soni · Member Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 102 Location: LHR

Cool article on Air India lovers in the country featuring some of our forum members Cool

http://www.cntraveller.in/story/all-the-maharajas-men/

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

..and this is from a FB post.

THE FOLLOWING WAS POSTED BY A PASSENGER Mr ANANT RANGASWAMI ON HIS FACEBOOK WALL:
❝The wonderful story of Ms. A. Singh, head of cabin crew on AI 667 from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, 4 March.
The flight was late, and the delay did nothing to make me think better of Air India. I wish I had taken the Indigo, which is a couple of hours later.
Finally, we board. I'm one of the last to board as I have no cabin baggage and I have an aisle seat. Seat 8D.
I quickly scan the passengers seated next to me, in front of me and behind me and I notice row 7. Occupying row 7 A, B, C and D is a family of four. A young girl, around 5 years old, I would guess, occupies the window seat at 7A, her mother is seated in 7B. In 7C is a young boy, about 10 years old. It's apparent that he's mentally challenged. The father is across the aisle from the son.
The flight takes off. Every now and then, the boy yells. Loud. The parents, seated on either side of him, soothe him and calm him down.
It's time for the lunch to be served. The head of the cabin crew, Ms. A. Singh, (I stared at her name tag as we disembarked) served the family. No sooner had the mother taken the aluminium foil off her son's hot rice than he sent the tray flying, spraying rice across the aisle.
Ms. Singh rushed to the boy -- only to check that he was OK. She calmed him down. Next, she told her colleague to carry on with the service. Ms. Singh then quickly brought another meal for the boy. One could see the gratitude in the eyes of both parents.
Ms. Singh, who I would imagine is in her 40s, then proceeded to clean up the rice in the aisle; she was on all fours and using just napkins to deal with the mess. It took her both time and effort, but she carried on till it was done.
After that, it was business as usual for Ms. Singh.
She kept checking that the boy was okay in between the work routine.
The flight done, I walked up to her and told her that what she did was fantastic.
Her reply? "It was nothing. Imagine what the boy is going through."
Why do I post this? Because Ms. Singh needs to know that she is appreciated. Will someone who knows someone who knows someone in Air India makes sure she gets the message?❞

And two photos: Ms. Singh and CMD Lohani

https://scontent.fdel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/12814036_10156583716495162_4138075320372160576_n.jpg?oh=8ea3b9e16418c4a9944417da3b1fa07f&oe=57962B84

https://scontent.fdel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12803124_10156583716120162_6394065972878506107_n.jpg?oh=72272de0373c5dc0bf76c7674917b87b&oe=5753E846

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

...and another, from another FB post:

Calcutta base Cabin Crew Tandra Sarkar, Nandita Priyadarshi Ghosh, Neeta Chaudhary & Vaishali Das were given appreciation letters by CMD for their handling medical emergency on flight AI-765 of 24th Feb 2016...
Once again, photo copyright with the owner:

https://scontent.fdel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/10392209_10156613984425162_6792377191528046971_n.jpg?oh=ccd81b460a36c751d3839d446ac35cbe&oe=578F83EF

The_Goat · Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 10:55 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Now if only management gave the cabin crew a better product to work with - seats, IFE, food, presentation, etc., etc.

The airline has a lot of promise, but it's still a ways from getting there:

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/02/01/air-india-first-class-review/

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

747-237 · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:49 am Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AI-using-faulty-simulator-to-train-Dreamliner-pilots/articleshow/51387177.cms

AI using faulty simulator to train Dreamliner pilots

Mar 14, 2016

For the past two weeks, cash-strapped national carrier Air India has been training its pilots on a faulty Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator with defective warning lights.

Inside a flight simulator, pilots are put in charge of emergencies like engine failure, fire and malfunctions they might encounter in real life. If a warning light comes on, they are taught not to ignore it. But AI pilots undergoing training are being instructed to go against the rule book and ignore the light.

AI's executive director (training) has warned its engineers and instructors against reporting the flaw in the defect logbook. On Sunday, four days after TOI sent a query to AI on the issue, the flaw was finally allowed to be reported, though it hasn't been rectified.

"The warning light indicates that the navigation system (called the Inertial Reference System or IRS) now runs on battery, that is, it will shut down once the battery runs out of power. But it's a false warning light as the simulator's IRS has continued to work all these days, an impossible feat had the IRS actually malfunctioned and switched to battery power," said a source.

So why the hullabaloo over a false warning light? "Given that the said light concerns the aircraft's navigation system, instructing trainee pilots to ignore it is not a safe practice," the official added. First, on a real aircraft, an "IRS on BATT" warning light would have been a "no-go".

Said a source: " A false IRS warning light has the potential to send a confusing message."
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747-237 · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 5:40 pm Post subject:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/business/ai-menu--tushar/story-HCIWxEEBkPM6G0aVyFPcVM.html

After 10 years, Air India gets new menu

Believe it or not but the menu on Air India’s (AI) flights from Delhi to London has remained unchanged for nearly ten years. And, if you thought this was due to a strong demand from frequent flyers for the same old dishes, you are wrong.

This has happened simply because each small or big decision had to be approved by someone sitting in Delhi, said a senior official, who did not wish to be named. However, this will change soon.

Ashwani Lohani, the airline’s new chairman and managing director, was shocked when he was told about the issue during a recent visit to some of AI’s European stations. Lohani, on the spot, ordered a change in rules allowing the regional offices to take a call on such issues like in-flight food.

“I have delegated the power to regional offices to take decisions on such issues. They will have the power to decide on the menu,” Lohani said.

“In airline and hospitality business, you can’t let such issues drag on for years. The decision has to be quick and in line with the changing times. We have seen a new domestic start-up airline in India change its menu multiple times in the last one year after observing passenger demands,” said another official.

“London is one of the most important routes for us and was one of the first destinations where we started operating the Dreamliner,” the official said.

So gear up for a steaming hot new menu, the next time you fly to London by Air India.

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747-237 · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:10 pm Post subject:

Air India S16 Italy Service Changes

Air India in summer 2016 season is adjusting service to Italy, as the airline moves 4th weekly flight from Delhi – Rome to Delhi – Milan Malpensa.
The frequency change will begin from the week of 27MAR16, operated by Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

Delhi – Milan Malpensa
AI137 DEL1415 – 1930MXP 788 x357
AI138 MXP2100 – 0825+1DEL 788 x357

Delhi – Rome
AI123 DEL1415 – 1905FCO 788 357
AI122 FCO2040 – 0740+1DEL 788 357

Source: Airlineroute.net
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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3487498/Senior-politicians-forced-wait-Air-India-flight-two-hours-crew-members-began-FIGHTING.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

After the feel good stories about AI, here is a negative one. I am not sure if this happened as reported, because I haven't seen this in any of the Indian newspapers online, yet.

megatop747 · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:11 pm Post subject:

Was reported in NDTV as well

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vvips-welcome-to-air-indias-world-crew-fight-delays-flight-by-hours-1285879

Caliguy · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:35 am Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

747-237 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 4:32 pm Post subject:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-expects-rs-8-crore-operating-profit-this-fiscal-mahesh-sharma/articleshow/51409391.cms

Air India expects Rs 8 crore operating profit this fiscal: Mahesh Sharma

Mar 15, 2016

With substantial improvement, Air India is expected to post an operating profit of Rs 8 crore in the current fiscal, the government said today.

This would also be the first time since the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines that the national carrier would be reporting an operating profit.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma told Rajya Sabha that Air India is expected to "post substantial improvements" as per the revised estimates of 2015-16 compared to the previous financial year.

"Air India is expected to earn operating profit of Rs 8 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 2,636.18 crore in the previous year. This is the first time that the company is going to achieve operating profit since its merger in 2007-08," he said in a written reply.

The airline expects to shave off its losses by around 40 per cent to Rs 3,529.80 crore this fiscal.

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747-237 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 5:28 am Post subject:

Accident: Air India A320 at Mumbai on Mar 15th 2016, burst tyres on landing

An Air India Airbus A320-200, registration VT-ESL performing flight AI-630 from Nagpur to Mumbai (India) with 161 people on board, landed on Mumbai's runway but burst both aft left main tyres during roll out. The aircraft became disabled while turning off the runway, an emergency evacuation via slides was initiated. A number of passengers received minor injuries in the evacuation.

Source: avherald.com
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747-237 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:18 pm Post subject:

Air India Discontinues Delhi – Abu Dhabi Service from mid-May 2016

In the recent schedule update, Air India plans to discontinue Delhi – Abu Dhabi service, where it currently operates 3 weekly flights with Airbus A319 aircraft.
Current listing shows the airline operates last flight on 15MAY16 (16MAY16 from AUH).

AI941 DEL2025 – 2255AUH 319 357
AI942 AUH0005 – 0505DEL 319 146

Source: Airlineroute.net
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abhijith16 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:07 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:03 am Post subject:

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-air-india-inks-pact-to-induct-14-a320neo-aircraft-2190215

Air India inks pact to induct 14 A320neo aircraft

17 Mar 2016

Air India on Wednesday signed a pact with a Kuwait-based leasing company ALAFCO for leasing 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft.

The deal was inked on the inaugural day of the India Aviation 2016 which is being held in Hyderabad. The delivery of aircraft is likely to start from early next year.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director, Air India, said, "This is a very important partnership for Air India. The A320 aircraft will add strength to our existing fleet and enhance our role as a major player in the domestic market."

The airline officials said the induction would augment Air India's capacity in domestic market. Air India already has strong infrastructure maintenance facilities for the Airbus A320 family.

These A320neo aircraft will come fitted with the new generation CFM leap engines which will reduce noise and emissions, enhance the operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption by at least 15%.

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