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Air India News -- Part 34
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747-237
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 7:59 am    Post subject: Air India News -- Part 34 Reply with quote

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/flights-grounded-till-april-14-airlines-take-up-repairs-upgrades/articleshow/74838590.cms

Air India orders overhaul of its entire fleet of 147 aircraft

Mar 27, 2020

With over 650 aircraft now on the ground as both international and domestic flights face extended curbs, regular maintenance and upkeep of the aircraft to keep them serviceable has become one of the main concerns for airlines.

All international commercial passenger flights will remain suspended till April 14, aviation regulator DGCA announced on Thursday. The government had suspended domestic passenger flight operations from midnight on March 24.

Air India has asked its subsidiary Air India Engineering Services ltd (AIESL) to undertake regular maintenance of its entire fleet of 147 aircraft including that of Air India Express and Alliance Air. “Presently, all 147 aircraft are in India. Many of them are at Delhi, while another big chunk is at Mumbai airport. Some A320s are at Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Nagpur,” said HR Jagannath, CEO of AIESL.

The airline plans to use the lockdown period to carry out the maintenance upgrades of its Boeing 787s and 777s.

“We wanted to bring in all aircraft for C checks and certain modifications. We want to do a full software upgrade to 10.3 version on all 787s and 777s which takes a week to do. We also want to upgrade the engine thrusts from present 67k to 70k. These aircraft fly on Australia or London routes. We have got the approvals,” Jagannath said.

The airline is facing a manpower crunch as the country faces a 21-day lockdown over coronavirus fears.

“We have been told to deploy minimum staff and follow social distancing. There was a training course for B2 level engineers but now we have postponed it. We always keep minimum aircraft fully serviceable whenever the government requires for special missions like evacuations in Wuhan, Japan, Milan and Rome that Air India carried out during the COVID-19 outbreak,” he added.

Due to AIESL’s engineering standards and experienced staff, American engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney roped it in to carry out the repairs on its A320 engines. The technical snags led to several safety incidents involving A320 aircraft in the fleets of IndiGo and GoAir.

Maintenance of aircraft involves several checks: daily checks, transit checks, weekly checks, checks for night halt, A and C checks, weekly, and yearly check.

“The engineers have a list of things to be carried out that needs to be ticked as the walkaround inspection goes on and the list becomes more exhaustive,” he said.

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Caliguy
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about a deep clean and fix broken seats, bins, walls, etc
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Jaysit
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Caliguy wrote:
How about a deep clean and fix broken seats, bins, walls, etc


What broken seats?

Signed, Air India.

AI is a GOI entity. Quality, consistency are not its goals.
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:43 pm    Post subject: Evacuation flights? Reply with quote

Currently 5 Air India aircraft are online on FR24 probably evacuation flights to Europe.

B77W - VT-ALN - AI3001 - from Mumbai
B77W - VT-ALO - AI3003 - from Mumbai
B788 - VT-ANN - AI3005 - from Mumbai
B788 - VT-ANL - AI125 - from Mumbai
B788 - VT-ANR - AI121 - from Delhi

Destination is N/A.

Any details?
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The_Goat
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 4:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Evacuation flights? Reply with quote

5Patel wrote:
Currently 5 Air India aircraft are online on FR24 probably evacuation flights to Europe.

B77W - VT-ALN - AI3001 - from Mumbai
B77W - VT-ALO - AI3003 - from Mumbai
B788 - VT-ANN - AI3005 - from Mumbai
B788 - VT-ANL - AI125 - from Mumbai
B788 - VT-ANR - AI121 - from Delhi

Destination is N/A.

Any details?


Yes,

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/air-india-plans-nine-charter-flights-in-indian-cities-to-send-stranded-german-nationals-back-home/article31199221.ece#

German tourists stranded in India are being sent back home.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/88439-air-india-leases-heathrow-slots-from-garuda-indonesia

Air India leases Heathrow slots from Garuda Indonesia

02.04.2020

Following its decision to end services to London Heathrow, Garuda Indonesia has leased out its slots at the British gateway to Air India. The Indonesian flag carrier operated its last flights to London from Denpasar via Medan Kuala Namu on February 1, 2020.

According to slot coordinator ACL, Air India has leased three slot pairs for evening operations on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The lease is for two years and will expire at the end of the Summer 2021 season. Air India intends to exploit the slots for flights from Mumbai Int'l using B787-8s.

Flights that use these slots (AI127/128) are already scheduled and will resume the moment the airline restarts operations after restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Air India plans to operate 32x weekly to London Heathrow during the Summer 2020 season, including 2x daily from Delhi Int'l (using B787-8s), 11x weekly from Mumbai (daily on B777-300(ER)s and 4x weekly on B787-8s, including the three Garuda slot flights), 4x weekly from Ahmedabad, and 3x weekly from Bangalore Int'l (both using B787-8s).

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 11:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/air-india-shuts-bookings-for-domestic-and-international-flights-till-30-april-11585930611973.html

Air India shuts bookings for domestic and international flights till 30 April

3 Apr 2020

Air India has shut its booking window until 30 April for all domestic and international routes and is awaiting a decision after 14 April, when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end.

"We are awaiting a decision post 14 April," the airline spokesperson said, reported PTI.

On Thursday, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said airlines are free to take ticket bookings for any date after 14 April. The 21-day nationwide lockdown began on 25 March.

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PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/88439-air-india-leases-heathrow-slots-from-garuda-indonesia

Air India leases Heathrow slots from Garuda Indonesia

02.04.2020

Following its decision to end services to London Heathrow, Garuda Indonesia has leased out its slots at the British gateway to Air India. The Indonesian flag carrier operated its last flights to London from Denpasar via Medan Kuala Namu on February 1, 2020.

According to slot coordinator ACL, Air India has leased three slot pairs for evening operations on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The lease is for two years and will expire at the end of the Summer 2021 season. Air India intends to exploit the slots for flights from Mumbai Int'l using B787-8s.

Flights that use these slots (AI127/128) are already scheduled and will resume the moment the airline restarts operations after restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Air India plans to operate 32x weekly to London Heathrow during the Summer 2020 season, including 2x daily from Delhi Int'l (using B787-8s), 11x weekly from Mumbai (daily on B777-300(ER)s and 4x weekly on B787-8s, including the three Garuda slot flights), 4x weekly from Ahmedabad, and 3x weekly from Bangalore Int'l (both using B787-8s).


So the Garuda flights seem loaded (based on the days of the week listed here) but the other 4 flights mentioned to get AI to 11 other flights aren’t showing - just one Sunday flight is (so three are missing). Btw AI has basically managed to get the flight timings reasonably the same. So good job or they got lucky. Maybe AI is waiting on new timings for the other 3?
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It will be interesting to know how much AI paid for the Garuda slots at LHR.
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iah87 wrote:
It will be interesting to know how much AI paid for the Garuda slots at LHR.


India wanted to punish Malaysia for speaking in favour of Pakistan post Article 370 withdrawal. So the GoI decided to make Indonesia the main supplier of palm oil to India, and the Idonesians reciprocated by giving these slots to AI for cheap.

Don't quote me on this. It's a rumour doing the rounds Wink
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India May 2020 Preliminary International Network as of 03MAY20

Air India in the last few days filed preliminary International operation for the month of May 2020, which sees initial reduced frequencies on selected routes when it resumes operation. As India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced extended scheduled service suspension until 17MAY20, the following preliminary schedule is effective 18MAY20 – 31MAY20, as of 03MAY20 OAG schedules.

Additional changes remain likely in the next few days, reflecting projected demand as well as on-going travel restrictions in various countries.

Ahmedabad – Kuwait City 2 weekly A321
Ahmedabad – London Heathrow 4 weekly 787-8
Amritsar – Birmingham 3 weekly 787-8
Amritsar – London Stansted 3 weekly 787-8
Bangalore – London Heathrow 3 weekly 787-8
Bangalore – Male 6 weekly A321
Chennai – Colombo 1 daily A321
Chennai – Dubai 1 daily A321
Chennai – Muscat 1 daily A321
Delhi – Bahrain 4 weekly A319
Delhi – Bangkok 2 weekly A321
Delhi – Birmingham 3 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Chicago O’Hare 1 daily 777-300ER
Delhi – Colombo 1 daily A321
Delhi – Copenhagen 3 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Doha 6 weekly A321
Delhi – Dubai 2 daily 787-8
Delhi – Frankfurt 1 daily 787-8
Delhi – Kabul 4 weekly A320
Delhi – Kathmandu 2 daily A320
Delhi – London Heathrow 2 daily 787-8
Delhi – Madrid 3 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Melbourne 2 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Milan Malpensa 2 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Muscat 1 daily A321
Delhi – New York JFK 1 daily 777-300ER
Delhi – Paris CDG 1 daily 787-8
Delhi – Rome 2 weekly 787-8
Delhi – San Francisco 10 weekly 777-200LR
Delhi – Seoul Incheon 2 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Singapore 4 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Stockholm Arlanda 3 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Sydney 3 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Tel Aviv 4 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Tokyo Narita 2 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Toronto 1 daily 777-300ER
Delhi – Vienna 3 weekly 787-8
Delhi – Washington Dulles 3 weekly 787-8
Goa – Dubai 4 weekly A321
Goa – Kuwait City 3 weekly A321
Indore – Dubai 3 weekly A321
Kolkata – Dubai 4 weekly A321
Kolkata – Kathmandu 4 weekly A319
Kozhikode – Dubai 1 daily A321
Kozhikode – Sharjah 1 daily A321
Mumbai – Abu Dhabi 1 daily A321
Mumbai – Bangkok 2 weekly A321
Mumbai – Colombo 4 weekly A319
Mumbai – Doha 3 weekly 787-8
Mumbai – Dubai 13 weekly A321/787-8
Mumbai – Frankfurt 4 weekly 787-8
Mumbai – Kuwait City 1 daily A321
Mumbai – London Heathrow 11 weekly 777-300ER/787-8 (Previously not covered on Airlineroute, AI plans to add 11th weekly flight in S20)
Mumbai – Muscat 1 daily A321
Mumbai – Nairobi 3 weekly 787-8
Mumbai – Newark 1 daily 777-300ER
Mumbai – Singapore 2 weekly A321
Thiruvananthapuram – Male 1 daily A321
Thiruvananthapuram – Sharjah 1 daily A320


Source: Airlineroute.net
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 1:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
[i] Air India May 2020 Preliminary International Network as of 03MAY20



Any updates on domestic ops?
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
Air India May 2020 Preliminary International Network as of 03MAY20


Ahmedabad – London Heathrow 4 weekly 787-8
Amritsar – Birmingham 3 weekly 787-8
Amritsar – London Stansted 3 weekly 787-8
Bangalore – London Heathrow 3 weekly 787-8




Delhi – Frankfurt 1 daily 787-8

Delhi – London Heathrow 2 daily 787-8
Delhi – Madrid 3 weekly 787-8

Delhi – Milan Malpensa 2 weekly 787-8

Delhi – Paris CDG 1 daily 787-8
Delhi – Rome 2 weekly 787-8


Delhi – Vienna 3 weekly 787-8



Mumbai – Frankfurt 4 weekly 787-8

Mumbai – London Heathrow 11 weekly 777-300ER/787-8 (Previously not covered on Airlineroute, AI plans to add 11th weekly flight in S20)


Source: Airlineroute.net


They might as well drop all the Europe terminators. The whole of EU is closed to non-EU passenger air traffic till further notice.
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PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2020 5:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seriously AI, your May/June schedule is a bit crazy. It looks like 50%+ of long haul is back. Europe is not even really open yet nor is the US. I think AI should have done (ji’m just focusing on long haul to the West) 3X each to BOM-LHR, DEL-LHR and 2X each to BLR-LHR, AMD-LHR and 7x DEL-FRA and 7X BOM-FRA. Maybe 3X EWR-BOM, 4X DEL-ORD and 3X DEL-SFO, 2X DEL-YYZ (ensuring DEL-US is daily). Just to get basic connectivity so that people aren’t trapped and essential travel (which is super low) can happen. Connect to Star hubs like FRA, EWR, ORD, SFO to then connect to EU and NA. I kept LHR as there is O&D, business and gets people in and out. Now maybe cargo is booming to justify their schedule but there is no way India will have all this travel when even US airlines have totally slashed US-EU summer flights.
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PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2020 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I guess that is AI's wish list. I am not sure if AI will actually operate all these flights, maybe they will add slowly later.

As every one pointed out, there is very little traffic now and India will probably allow international flights only in July. By then some cities in EU and many cities in US maybe open with some traffic. Technically, US is open now but most flights are cancelled due to low traffic.
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PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2020 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Caliguy wrote:
I think AI should have done (ji’m just focusing on long haul to the West) 3X each to BOM-LHR, DEL-LHR and 2X each to BLR-LHR, AMD-LHR and 7x DEL-FRA and 7X BOM-FRA. Maybe 3X EWR-BOM, 4X DEL-ORD and 3X DEL-SFO, 2X DEL-YYZ (ensuring DEL-US is daily). Just to get basic connectivity so that people aren’t trapped and essential travel (which is super low) can happen.


7X FRA from BOM and DEL is totally unnecessary when almost all EU-EU and EU-NA flights are cancelled.

7X LHR would be a better option. Apparently there are a large number of British citizens stuck in India who want to return. The UK government is planning to operate repatriation flights.
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PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2020 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The_Goat wrote:
Caliguy wrote:
I think AI should have done (ji’m just focusing on long haul to the West) 3X each to BOM-LHR, DEL-LHR and 2X each to BLR-LHR, AMD-LHR and 7x DEL-FRA and 7X BOM-FRA. Maybe 3X EWR-BOM, 4X DEL-ORD and 3X DEL-SFO, 2X DEL-YYZ (ensuring DEL-US is daily). Just to get basic connectivity so that people aren’t trapped and essential travel (which is super low) can happen.


7X FRA from BOM and DEL is totally unnecessary when almost all EU-EU and EU-NA flights are cancelled.

7X LHR would be a better option. Apparently there are a large number of British citizens stuck in India who want to return. The UK government is planning to operate repatriation flights.


I just meant from a connectivity POV. Meaning if the GOI or AI wants to ensure India is still connected to a lot of the world operating to FRA makes sense so people can connect to LH’s network rather than 2/3X to all those individual EU cities.
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a booking on AI to fly on 27th July: MAD-DEL-TRV.

It seems that the AI tollfree number in the US is no longer working in the US. The chat feature on the homepage is gone as well. An email that I send has been unanswered.

Any idea what else I can try to contact AI?
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 10:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/92443-dot-curbs-air-indias-us-charters

DOT curbs Air India's US charters

29.06.2020

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an order requesting Indian carriers - effectively only Air India (AI, Mumbai Int'l) - to apply for charter pre-authorisation for each such flight they want to operate to the United States, alleging that the Indian flag carrier is using the false pretence of repatriation flights to bypass the law.

"The Department is taking this action because the Government of India is engaging in unfair and discriminatory practices with respect to charter air transportation services to and from India. This order will allow the Department to scrutinize charter flights by Indian carriers on a case-by-case basis. The Department seeks to restore a level playing field for US airlines," the DOT said.

According to the US authorities, Air India's charter flights, supposedly operated exclusively for repatriation of passengers, amount to 53% of its normal scheduled capacity to the US.

"Considering this rate of flying, and that Air India is selling tickets on the market, the charters go beyond true repatriations, and it appears that Air India may be using repatriation charters as a way of circumventing the Government of India-imposed prohibition of scheduled services," the DOT alleged.

The authority underlined that the Indian ban prohibits any of the US carriers from serving India. Given Air India's alleged "beyond true repatriations" charters, this situation puts American carriers at a disadvantage and creates a virtual monopoly on the US-India market benefitting Air India.

The DOT said it would reconsider its policy once it feels "confident that the level playing field was restored" and the US airlines are again allowed to serve India.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) and Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) served India directly from the United States.

Air India has been operating charter flights to San Francisco, CA, Chicago O'Hare, and New York Newark among others as part of its Vande Bharat repatriation strategy.

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PostPosted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/93009-tata-group-emerges-as-sole-bidder-for-air-india

Tata Group emerges as sole bidder for Air India

10.07.2020

Tata Group, one of India's largest multi-industry conglomerates, has emerged as the only bidder interested in acquiring Air India (AI, Mumbai Int'l), ET Now has reported.

Unnamed sources said the group had already appointed a law firm to look into a possible transaction and had also held talks with the government. However, any formal expressions of interest have yet to be announced. The current deadline for binding bids falls on August 31, 2020, although the Indian government is reportedly prepared to extend it given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tata already owns 51% stakes in two Indian joint venture airlines; Vistara (UK, Delhi Int'l) (with Singapore Airlines Group) and AirAsia India (I5, Chennai) (with AirAsia Group). The holding's chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, has previously said that the group would seek to merge Air India with one of its other two airlines, presumably full-service carrier Vistara, should it succeed in the privatisation process.

Following a failed attempt to sell a 76% stake in Air India in 2018, this time the Government of India has put up all of the flag carrier share capital up for sale.

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/93061-air-india-lays-off-cabin-crew-pilots-govt-rejects-funding

Air India lays off cabin crew, pilots; gov't rejects funding

15.07.2020

Air India (AI, Mumbai Int'l) has laid off around 200 cabin crew who were recently admitted to the company on a contractual basis and has also denied a request by more than 50 pilots to extend their contracts, the news agency ANI reported on July 12 citing unnamed sources.

The flight attendants' contracts have been terminated, while the pilots are currently serving their notice period as the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent national and localised lockdowns continue to decimate the number of flights operating in the country.

On July 10, the agency reported that during a meeting, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association demanded that the Ministry of Civil Aviation clear its long-pending dues to staff immediately and allow pilots at Air India to resign with immediate effect.

"Firstly, we expressed our disapproval for trying to attack the frontline workers of Air India who worked during the peak of the pandemic. However, we expressed our willingness to support our [chairman and managing director] during these testing times in the interests of the airline, provided every employee of Air India shares the burden by taking a percentage cut on their gross [salaries]," the pilots' body said.

The pilots had also suggested compulsory leave without pay on a month-to-month basis on the condition that it is applied across the board for all employees in line with market conditions.

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://simpleflying.com/air-india-vande-baharat-us/

Air India schedule for India-US flights till Aug 31.

Looks almost like a normal schedule. United also has a schedule, but not as robust and has no flights to BOM. Where is Delta ?

AI is doing good while most connections through Middle East are not permitted.
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

AirIndia Express aircraft from Dubai to Calicut with 191 passengers crashes after overshooting the runway and going into the valley.


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PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Accident: India Express B738 at Kozhikode on Aug 7th 2020, went off runway and fell into valley

An Air India Express Boeing 737-800, registration VT-AXH performing flight IX-1344 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Kozhikode (India) with 191 people on board, landed on Kozhikode's runway 10 but went off the runway and fell into a valley at 19:41ΦL (14:11Z). The aircraft broke into several parts. Rescue services are responding.

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/cost-cutting-air-india-halves-european-network/articleshow/77501954.cms

Air India halves European network

Aug 12, 2020

Air India has cut its European footprint by half as a cost-cutting move. Five cities — Milan, Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen and Stockholm — have been removed from AI’s network as a cost-cutting move to survive the pandemic-induced severe downturn in travel. AI will now fly to London, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome in EU and the UK, said an official.

“We have not flown to the five cities that have been removed from its EU network for almost two months now. As of now, we cannot say when flights to those places will be resumed,” said the official. AI’s nonstops from Delhi to Milan, Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen and Stockholm using its Boeing 787 Dreamliners were the only direct flights on these routes and were popular with travellers in pre-pandemic times.

An airline spokesperson said: “In view of the COVID situation, (AI has) approved to close down these stations. (We will) immediate initiate action with regard to closure in consultation with local lawyers, and advise the time lines, by which the station will be closed.”

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ais-domestic-market-share-falls-to-9-its-lowest-ever/articleshow/77536638.cms

AI’s domestic market share falls to 9%, its lowest ever

Aug 14, 2020

Last month, 21lakh people flew within the country — 82% less than the 1.2 crore passengers seen in July 2019. Scheduled domestic air travel in India was allowed to resume at one-third capacity from May 25, after a two-month suspension. The coronavirus had started disrupting air travel from late February and consequently India saw just 3.7 crore passengers in the January-July 2020 period — down 55% from 8.2 crore in the year-ago period, according to DGCA data.


Last month also saw two things happen for the first time in domestic market share: Air India’s share fell to single digit (in terms of passengers carried) and market leader IndiGo soared past the 60% mark (at 60.4%). SpiceJet is the second biggest Indian airline at 15.7%, with AI a distant third at 9.1%. The two Tata JV airlines — Vistara (4.2%) and AirAsia India (6.2%) — together accounted for a 10.4% domestic market share in July. Operating minuscule operations, Wadia Group’s GoAir saw just a 3.8% share in July.

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PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India has withdrawn an A319, VT-SCA, from the fleet today.
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Titan Airways A321 (G-POWU) in old Indian Airlines colors, and registered VT-EAL (former IC 737-200), as a movie prop for the Bollywood movie "Bell Bottom".


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 8:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India adds Delhi – Vancouver service from late-Oct 2020

Air India at the launch of winter 2020/21 season is adding new service to Canada, as the airline schedules nonstop Delhi – Vancouver route, effective 25OCT20.
This regular service will see Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operates 3 times weekly.

Following schedule effective 01NOV20 – 12MAR21.

AI185 DEL0430 – 0700YVR 77W 357
AI186 YVR1015 – 1545DEL 77W 357


Source: Airlineroute.net
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 8:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

AI is certainly become aggressive in North American market. The Vancouver route will be in direct competition to AC and for now they have limited competition, no ME and no EU or Asian carriers.

They are also flying to all US destinations, EWR, JFK, IAD, ORD and SFO. I guess make hay while the sun shines !!! At least until Jan 1, 2021, when India is scheduled to allow regular international flights, pre-COVID.
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iah87 wrote:
AI is certainly become aggressive in North American market. The Vancouver route will be in direct competition to AC and for now they have limited competition, no ME and no EU or Asian carriers.

They are also flying to all US destinations, EWR, JFK, IAD, ORD and SFO. I guess make hay while the sun shines !!! At least until Jan 1, 2021, when India is scheduled to allow regular international flights, pre-COVID.


Let’s see if India really opens up Jan 1. I’m thinking more like March 1. To be honest, I actually like the bubbles. There are so few people flying (relatively) that having fewer airlines fly keeps the airlines going. India has an interest in keeping Indian airlines going and maintaining nonstop connectivity to key cities (domestic and international). Also I think India needs these nonstop flights that AI and UA are starting. Travel in 2021 will be all about safety and avoiding connections in third countries. The last thing many people (not all) want is to be stuck in a transit city like DXB being told they have COVID or a cold or what ever. BLR tech should thank UA. What ever travel needs to happen between SFO and BLR can finally do it in one nonstop flight. I am 100% certain that companies will first place employees on that flight over other one stop (plus UA is the main airline for SFO)

One question - people say india is not allowing connecting flights like India-EU-USA but I can buy a ticket on AF from JFK-CDG-BOM. Same on BA/VS via LHR. How is that possible?
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Caliguy wrote:


One question - people say india is not allowing connecting flights like India-EU-USA but I can buy a ticket on AF from JFK-CDG-BOM. Same on BA/VS via LHR. How is that possible?


May be India is allowing some connecting flights, but they definitely told LH to only restrict to EU connections. AI was flying 3 flights weekly while LH was flying 20 flights to India and India proposed to restrict that to 7 flights if LH wants to continue connecting traffic.
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India W20 UK Air Bubble network as of 21OCT20

22 October 2020

Air India this monthly gradually updated planned service to the UK, under the “Air Bubble” program.
For winter 2020/21 season from 25OCT20 to 27MAR21, the Star Alliance carrier to operate following UK service, on board Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

Ahmedabad – London Heathrow 2 weekly
Amritsar – Birmingham 1 weekly
Amritsar – London Heathrow 1 weekly
Bangalore – London Heathrow 2 weekly
Delhi – London Heathrow 7 weekly
Goa – London Heathrow 2 weekly
Kochi – London Heathrow 3 weekly
Kolkata – London Heathrow 1 weekly
Mumbai – London Heathrow 4 weekly


Source: Airlineroute.net
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

AI’s old Boeing 747s will be transferred to Alliance Air, which currently has a fleet of turboprops, if the Maharaja gets a buyer and is privatised.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/harpreet-singh-appointed-ceo-of-alliance-air-first-woman-to-head-an-indian-carrier/articleshow/78956327.cms
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whats the take on the most likely takeover bid of AI by TATA presumily by Dec 2020.
TATA has refused a joint ownership option with ADANI Group for obvious reasons
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/air-india-to-start-hyderabad-chicago-and-bengaluru-san-francisco-nonstops-in-the-new-year/articleshow/79413477.cms


Air India to start Hyderabad-Chicago and Bengaluru-San Francisco nonstops in the New Year


Nov 25, 2020

Air India will start a direct flight between Hyderabad and Chicago from January 9, 2021, making this the first scheduled service between south India and the US. The Bengaluru airport on Wednesday announced AI will start a twice-weekly nonstop between Bengaluru and San Francisco (SFO) from January 11, 2021.

United is scheduled to start direct flight to this route from May 6, 2021. And next winter, Amrican Airlines plans to connect Bengaluru to Seattle.

A senior AI official said, "We plan to launch Hyderabad-Chicago as a twice weekly from January 9. The date for Bengaluru-SFO is yet to be finalised. We are awaiting US transportation security administration (TSA) clearance for both these routes."

The privatisation process for AI is on and aviation minister HS Puri has often said that failure to find a buyer could mean curtains for the Maharaja. As of now, the deadline for bidding for AI ends next month unless the same is extended again.

While AI future depends on it getting a buyer, south India will see direct connectivity to the US. Due to Covid, people will want to travel nonstop between India and North America and not one-stop via hubs in the Europe, Gulf and southeast Asia. So India-North America, especially US, is a huge market for airlines flying direct.

If AI gets a buyer and the new owner decides to continue the routes, then Hyderabad-Chicago and Bengaluru-SFO routes, could continue if not more by the privatised Maharaja. Then United and American Airlines have planned their own launches. Vistara is also looking at starting direct flights on India-US routes.

Currently while scheduled international flights to and from India remain suspended, these flights are being operated under an air bubble between India and the US.

At 8,701 miles (about 14,003 km), the Bengaluru-SFO nonstop will be the longest route to be operated by AI and any US carrier. "This route, at this point in time, will be third in the ranking for longest routes operated by all carriers," a United spokesperson had said recently.

Bengaluru airport said in a statement, "Air India will operate a 238-seater Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft on this route. This would be the first non-stop flight between Bengaluru and the United States, connecting the world’s two tech hubs – the original Silicon Valley and the Silicon Valley of India."


"The new non-stop service is expected to meet the demand of corporate customers for travel to SFO and adjoining areas in the US. Air India plans to operate a 238-seater Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft, to serve the largest unserved international origin/ destination (O/D) market for BLR Airport. The new route sets two records – it would be Air India’s longest route at 14,000+ km (8,698 miles) and longest flight to and from India (over 16 hours). The national carrier has opened ticket booking from November 25, 2020," the Bengaluru airport statement added.

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am wondering how long will these flights last. Right now they are going to be flying under the bubble which protects these flights from 1 stop competition especially from Emirates and Qatar. And these flights only offer nonstops to specific pairs. BLR-SFO has good traffic potential and perhaps this will take succeed in the long term. Not sure about ORD-HYD.
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 28, 2020 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iah87 wrote:
I am wondering how long will these flights last. Right now they are going to be flying under the bubble which protects these flights from 1 stop competition especially from Emirates and Qatar. And these flights only offer nonstops to specific pairs. BLR-SFO has good traffic potential and perhaps this will take succeed in the long term. Not sure about ORD-HYD.


ORD-HYD is likely to do well too. Most of the passengers on the existing ORD-DEL-HYD flight are from HYD and Andhra. It may not be as premium heavy as SFO-BLR though. HYD is a price-sensitive market.
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 2:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The_Goat wrote:
iah87 wrote:
I am wondering how long will these flights last. Right now they are going to be flying under the bubble which protects these flights from 1 stop competition especially from Emirates and Qatar. And these flights only offer nonstops to specific pairs. BLR-SFO has good traffic potential and perhaps this will take succeed in the long term. Not sure about ORD-HYD.


ORD-HYD is likely to do well too. Most of the passengers on the existing ORD-DEL-HYD flight are from HYD and Andhra. It may not be as premium heavy as SFO-BLR though. HYD is a price-sensitive market.


Let’s see how HYD-ORD does. I think the flight going nonstop is 100% Covid related. They can charge the premium needed because of the air bubble. Otherwise, I think ORD-DEL-HYD works because DEL offers the premium needed for a nonstop (plus a huge northern Indian catchment area and tier 2/3 connections). HYD is a great add on because it provides good bulk to fill the back. Remember Chicago is not some HYD/Andhra super city. AI happens to offer a super convenient connection to HYD from ORD (there is not as much options ORD-HYD then say ORD-BOM)
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Caliguy wrote:

Let’s see how HYD-ORD does. I think the flight going nonstop is 100% Covid related. They can charge the premium needed because of the air bubble. Otherwise, I think ORD-DEL-HYD works because DEL offers the premium needed for a nonstop (plus a huge northern Indian catchment area and tier 2/3 connections). HYD is a great add on because it provides good bulk to fill the back. Remember Chicago is not some HYD/Andhra super city. AI happens to offer a super convenient connection to HYD from ORD (there is not as much options ORD-HYD then say ORD-BOM)


As a matter of fact, Telugus do account for a substantial fraction of the Indian community in Chicago and the Illinois area. So it is very much a HYD/Andhra super city. I won't at all be surprised if the AI ORD-DEL-HYD gets most of its revenue (both in the front and back) from HYD/Andhra passengers and DEL is included only as a crew change stopover.

Actually, AI should introduce an A320 service between HYD and Vijaywada to connect with the HYD-ORD flight. The Krishna/Guntur/East Godavari region accounts for a very large fraction of the US based Telugu diaspora.
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