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Air India News -- Part 34
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747-237
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/125927-air-india-takes-delivery-of-its-maiden-a321neo

Air India takes delivery of its maiden A321neo

28.03.2023

Air India took delivery of its first A321-200NX on March 25, 2023.

VT-RTD (msn 11183) was ferried directly from Hamburg Finkenwerder to Delhi International, but has yet to be inducted into service by the airline. It is the first of at least eight of the type secured from lessors, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. Air India has recently committed to adding seventy A321-200NX as a part of its blockbuster order for 470 aircraft.

Air India's current narrowbody fleet entails twenty A319-100s, nine A320-200s, twenty-seven A320-200Ns, and fourteen A321-200s.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 5:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India has added a new A321NEO to the fleet today, as VT-RTC.
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2023 2:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/merged-ai-express-airasia-india-will-have-enormous-opportunities-ceo-aloke-singh/articleshow/98817235.cms

The merger between AI Express and Air Asia India is going to take another year. Tata is really taking this slow.

Also there is no coordination between Vistara and AI on domestic flights, Vistara and AI flights often leave at the same time.
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/air-india-mulls-inducting-freighters-to-scale-up-its-cargo-business-123041600433_1.html


Air India mulls inducting freighters to scale up its cargo business

April 16, 2023

Air India is looking to scale up its cargo business, and is exploring the possibility of inducting freighters, in a bid to gain market share. The Tata Sons-owned airline, which boasts a 118-plane strong fleet, recently ordered 470 aircraft. Unlike IndiGo and SpiceJet, it doesn't possess any freighters — planes that purely fly cargo. It transports freight in the belly space of its Boeing and Airbus passenger aircraft.

“We are exploring the possibility of inducting freighter capacity into the network, both directly and in collaboration with partners,” Air India said in an emailed response, adding that cargo revenue is “expected to be a significant part of the revenue mix” of the airline.

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PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.news18.com/auto/air-india-to-get-new-look-and-improved-compensation-packages-roster-system-for-crew-7566187.html

Air India to Get New Look and Improved Compensation Packages, Roster System for Crew

April 17, 2023

Air India is set to unveil a new color scheme, insignia, cabin interiors, and crew uniforms as part of a rebranding effort, according to an internal communication from CEO Campbell Wilson. The CEO stated that the designs are “progressing well," and the plans for their “reveals" are being finalized. Although the airline’s mascot, the iconic Maharajah, will remain a part of it, there’s a possibility of adding a female counterpart.

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India has added a new A321NEO to the fleet today, as VT-RTB.
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PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2023 8:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
The 5 x B777-200LRs dry-leased from Delta are to be registered as follows :

New Regn. Old Regn.

VT-AEE N704DK
VT-AEF N702DN
VT-AEG N706DN
VT-AEH N707DN
VT-AEI N708DN

Meanwhile, the three existing LRs in the fleet will also be retained.
VT-ALF Jharkhand
VT-ALG Kerala
VT-ALH Maharashtra



VT-AEE has been delivered to Air India yesterday (01 May).
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PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2023 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India has added a new A321NEO to the fleet today, as VT-RTE.
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/128146-air-india-to-start-taking-b737-max-in-3q23-a350-in-4q23

[b]Air India to start taking B737 MAX in 3Q23, A350 in 4Q23[b]

01.06.2023

Air India is set to start taking deliveries from its record-breaking order for 470 aircraft later this year, with the first B737 MAX due to arrive in July or August 2023, followed by the first A350 in October or November 2023, Chief Executive Campbell Wilson told The Hindu Group media huddle.

"The bulk of them will start [delivering] from 2025. There are twenty-five A320/1neo coming this year. We wanted to be able to use these aircraft to expand quickly to improve the onboard product and buy some time until we could start taking deliveries reserved for the 470 new aircraft. By the latter half of 2024, a significant majority of our domestic full-service aircraft will be essentially brand new," Wilson explained.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that the airline's narrowbody fleet currently comprises twenty A319-100s, nine A320-200s, twenty-seven A320-200Ns, fourteen A321-200s, and four delivered-but-yet-to-be-inducted A321-200NX. Wilson said that at least nine A319s would be retired in the next 12 months, with "many" other aircraft due to return to their lessors.

Air India's February order comprised 190 B737 MAX, split between B737-8s and B737-10s, 140 A320-200Ns, and seventy A321-200Ns. On top of the renewal of its in-house fleet, Air India is also set to merge with full-service subsidiary Vistara (UK, Delhi International), which currently operates forty-six A320-200Ns, nine A321-200NX, one A321-200NX(LR), and two B737-800s to be retired.

"If you layer in the Vistara aircraft, 75-80% of the aircraft flying in full service will be brand new [in 2024]," Wilson said.

"On the widebody side, eleven B777s and six A350s comprise about a third of our widebody fleet. About a third of the aircraft will be operating with a modern interior product by the end of this financial year," he added.

Air India's widebody fleet currently includes seven B777-200(LR)s (including four second-hand ex-Delta Air Lines units added recently), thirteen B777-300(ER)s, and twenty-seven B787-8s. The carrier's order will see it add twenty B787-9s, ten B777-9s, thirty-four A350-1000s, and six A350-900s, on top of four B787-9s to be integrated from Vistara.

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 5:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
VT-AEE has been delivered to Air India yesterday (01 May).


Named "Avijit".
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/128548-air-india-begins-a321neo-revenue-operations

Air India begins A321neo revenue operations

14.06.2023

Air India has introduced one of its four A321-200NXs into revenue service, with VT-RTD (msn 11183) commencing scheduled flights on June 10, initially flying on the Delhi International - Mumbai route. The jet is one of four A321-200NX that the carrier has taken delivery of this year.

According to ADS-B data, VT-RTD operated two sectors on June 10, and five sectors on both June 11 and 12. It is flying various domestic routes, including Delhi - Mumbai, Lucknow - Mumbai, and Hyderabad International - Mumbai. Air India is reportedly basing all four of the A321neo at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport, with VT-RTB (msn 11113), VT-RTC (msn 11156), and VT-RTE (msn 11260), all now at that airport undergoing maintenance. ch-aviation has contacted Air India for further information on the rollout of the type.

Air India's first four A321neo were originally bound for Russian carriers before sanctions thwarted those plans. Their arrival was notable because it was 13 years since Air India last took delivery of an A321 aircraft type and four years after the airline last took delivery of a narrowbody. Tata Sons acquired the carrier in early 2022 in a USD2.4 billion equity and debt deal. Since then, Tata has set about modernising the airline, including merging brands and placing a massive order for 470 aircraft earlier this year. That order included a firm commitment for seventy A321-200neo.

According to ch-aviation fleets advanced data, Air India currently operates 121 aircraft, including twenty A319-100s, nine A320-200s, twenty-seven A320-200Ns, fourteen A321-200s, the four A321-200NX, seven B777-200LRs, thirteen B777-300ERs, and twenty-seven B787-8s. The airline flies to 83 destinations in 29 countries.

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 11, 2023 1:01 am    Post subject: VT-ANH & VT-ANL Reply with quote

Does anyone know the status of the 2 B788 Dreamliners VT-ANH and VT-ANL?

Both haven't flown for a very long time. Are then being used for spare for the rest of the fleet?

Will these 2 aircraft ever fly again?
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India's wide-body fleet will increase by 30 per cent by March 2024 as the airline plans to add six new A350 aircraft, five leased B777-200LR planes and nine B777-300ER aircraft during this fiscal year, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) Campbell Wilson said on Friday.

The first A350 will be delivered by Airbus within the next "few months", Wilson told employees in a message that has been reviewed by Business Standard.

"By the end of this financial year, the six new A350s, together with the 5 leased B772LRs and 9 other B773ERs we’re also inducting, will mean that our widebody fleet will have grown in size by 30 per cent within a year and that, by March 2024, around a third of the total widebody fleet will feature modern seats and inflight entertainment systems," he noted.


https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/air-india-s-wide-body-fleet-to-increase-by-30-by-march-2024-ceo-md-123072100479_1.html
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-to-lease-three-777-300-er-from-singapore-airlines/articleshow/102035381.cms

Air India to lease three 777-300 ER from Singapore Airlines

Jul 22, 2023

Air India will lease three Boeing 777-300 ER from Singapore Airlines as it expands its fleet modernisation strategy.

These aircraft are in addition to the 11 777 leased aircraft and will be used to phase out the older 777-200 aircraft which were inducted in 2009.These aircraft have older cabins and often have been subject of passenger ire due to crumbling seats, broken lavatories and dysfunctional seat-back entertainment screens. Air India has announced the sale of these aircraft.

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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
"By the end of this financial year, the six new A350s, together with the 5 leased B772LRs and 9 other B773ERs we’re also inducting, will mean that our widebody fleet will have grown in size by 30 per cent within a year and that, by March 2024, around a third of the total widebody fleet will feature modern seats and inflight entertainment systems," he noted.



Of these 9 77Ws, the first is an ex EY airframe, and is to be registered VT-AER.
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
"By the end of this financial year, the six new A350s, together with the 5 leased B772LRs and 9 other B773ERs we’re also inducting, will mean that our widebody fleet will have grown in size by 30 per cent within a year and that, by March 2024, around a third of the total widebody fleet will feature modern seats and inflight entertainment systems," he noted.



First A359 for AI, ntu by SU, repainted in all white before AI livery application.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/companies/air-india-likely-to-replace-iconic-maharajah-mascot-says-report-11031081.html

Air India likely to replace iconic 'Maharajah' mascot

JULY 26, 2023

Air India is likely to replace the 'Maharajah' mascot as the airline undergoes a revamp, according to a report by the Economic Times. The report also suggested that the Maharajah image may continue to be used at the airline's airport lounges and premium classes.

The airline has had a variety of logos over the ages including a centaur, the rising sun and a flying swan through the decades, the Maharajah was introduced a year before India's independence in 1946.

The airline is slated to get new livery featuring red, white and purple color. Red and white are Air India’s colours. It is likely that the purple denotes the color of Vistara airlines, post the airline's merger with Air India.

The report mentioned that the Airbus A350 planes will be the first ones to sport the new look after their induction in November this year. Design consultancy firm FutureBrand has been hired to revamp Air India’s branding strategy.

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PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

AirAsia India's five A320-200Ns and twenty-five A320-200s are being repainted with Air India Express's livery. This is occurring at a rate of three to four aircraft per month, with the repainting expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The integration of both airlines' reservation systems and customer interfaces has already occurred. AirAsia India has also initiated the process of changing its IATA flight code from 'I5' to 'IX'. The merged entity will be rebranded as AIX Connect, with the expectation that the combined Air India Express and AirAsia India fleets and network will more effectively compete against India's low-cost powerhouse carrier, IndiGo Airlines.

Air India will start placing its flight codes on AirAsia India flights on four domestic routes from August 1. According to ch-aviation schedules data, AirAsia India will operate three daily roundtrip flights between Bangalore International and Bhubaneswar as Air India codeshares, with Air India aircraft not servicing the route. On the three other routes - Mumbai International - Goa Dabolim; Delhi International - Lucknow; and Delhi International and Pune, AirAsia India aircraft will operate several scheduled roundtrips a day as Air India codeshares. However, the full-service carrier will also maintain some of its own flights on these routes.


https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/130213-airasia-india-merger-with-air-india-express-picks-up-speed
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/130267-dgca-okays-air-india-express-airasia-india-merger

DGCA okays Air India Express, AirAsia India merger

01.08.2023

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has set in train the merger between Air India Express (IX, Mumbai International) and AirAsia India (I5, Bangalore International), granting a series of approvals last week that will allow the two airlines to start integrating many of their systems and processes.

"The airline has now received regulatory approvals to operate its flights under the Air India Express branding. This development marks a significant fast-tracking of the integration efforts, including harmonisation of customer touchpoints, products, and services across both airlines," reads a July 28 statement from Air India Express. Describing the outcome as a "crucial step" in its merger plans, the statement added that "the approval from the regulator allows both Air India Express and flights to be marketed, distributed and operated under a common brand name 'Air India Express', before the subsequent scheduled legal merger of the two entities.

Last week, ch-aviation reported that the future AIX Connect, as the merged entity will be known, had sought approval from the DGCA to speed up the consolidation process, hoping to finalise it well ahead of the previously planned late March 2024 date. The merger between the two-low carriers is one plank in a broader consolidation program underway across airlines owned by Tata Sons that also includes a merger of the Air India (AI, Mumbai International) and Vistara (UK, Delhi International) brands.

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
747-237 wrote:
"By the end of this financial year, the six new A350s, together with the 5 leased B772LRs and 9 other B773ERs we’re also inducting, will mean that our widebody fleet will have grown in size by 30 per cent within a year and that, by March 2024, around a third of the total widebody fleet will feature modern seats and inflight entertainment systems," he noted.



Of these 9 77Ws, the first is an ex EY airframe, and is to be registered VT-AER.


Air India has added the first of the ex EY 77Ws (in AI colors sans jharokha windows, as in the case with the leased ex-DL 77Ls), registered VT-AER and named “Kriya”.


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 07, 2023 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/130486-air-india-to-take-remarketed-chinese-max-report

Air India to take remarketed Chinese MAX

07.08.2023

Air India will take 55 remarketed B737 MAX originally earmarked for customers in China, Leeham News has reported citing internal sources. The aircraft are part of the Indian carrier's recent order for 190jets and are not incremental.

Boeing confirmed during a recent earnings call that it had managed to find buyer(s) for the unwanted MAX but did not reveal their identity.

"We ended the [second] quarter with approximately 228 MAX airplanes in inventory. This includes 85 for customers in China and 55 that have now been remarketed as part of the plan we have previously discussed," Chief Financial Officer Brian West said.

Chief Executive Dave Calhoun emphasised that the remarketing was conducted "with permission of" and in dialogue with Chinese customers. The American manufacturer has been dithering on its plans to remarket the China-bound B737 MAX, initially announcing the plan in September 2022 only to backtrack in early 2023. Rumours first emerged in late 2022 that Boeing was hawking a portion of the 140 aircraft to Air India.

For their part, Chinese airlines have yet to resume B737 MAX deliveries despite the type being nearly all back in service in the country.

"Everybody is very happy with the performance. In fact, the reliability of the fleet has been fantastic. And we are getting a lot of good signs that they will resume delivery, but I am not going to predict that for you. We are just going to keep managing it exactly the way we have been. We are not dependent on it. We want to do it, and we certainly want to support our customers in China," Calhoun said.

Air India has an order for 140 B737-8s and fifty B737-10s directly from the manufacturer but will have to reconfigure the original China-bound jets.

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 7:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The new Air India livery and colors are to be released tomorrow (August 10) IST.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2023 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just terrible. Deeply disappointed to even post a pic of the new colors, livery and logo. What a shame.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2023 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/air-india-unveils-new-logo/articleshow/102615392.cms?from=mdr

Air India unveils new logo, branding and plane livery

Aug 10, 2023

Air India unveiled its new logo, branding and plane livery on Thursday as part of a multi-million dollar transformation of the former state-run carrier.
The new look re-imagines the iconic Indian window shape, historically used by Air India, into a gold window frame that becomes central to the new brand design system. It symbolises a 'Window of Possibilities', according to a release.

According to Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran the new logo represents limitless possibilities, progressiveness and confidence.Campbell Wilson, Air India CEO & MD, said: "Our transformative new brand reflects an ambition to make Air India a world-class airline serving guests from around the globe, and that represents a new India proudly on the global stage."
"The new Air India is bold, confident, and vibrant, but also warm and deeply rooted to its rich history and traditions that make Indian hospitality a global benchmark for standards in service," he added.

Air India's new logo symbol 'The Vista' is inspired by the peak of the gold window frame, signifying limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and the airline's bold, confident outlook for the future, it said in a release.

The airline said the new aircraft livery and design features a palette of deep red, aubergine, and gold highlights as well as a chakra-inspired pattern.

"It also boasts a striking new custom-made 'Air India Sans' font, marrying confidence with warmth to position Air India as premium, inclusive, and accessible," the release said.


The new brand identity has been designed in partnership with the brand transformation company FutureBrand.

Travellers will begin to see the new logo throughout their journey starting December 2023, when the airline's first A350 enters the fleet in the new livery, according to the airline.

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote


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PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2023 9:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

3 out of the 4 B747-400s (VT-EVA “Agra” , VT-EVB “Velha Goa”, VT-ESP “Ajanta”) parked at BOM have had their “Air India” titles removed from the fuselage and vertical stabilizer, perhaps in preparation for scrapping, or their final flight out of BOM.
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 15, 2023 5:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/air-india-express-tata-group-rebranding

Tata Group set to launch Air India Express rebrand with new tail patterns

2023-08-14

Following the unveiling of Air India’s new branding which included a fresh livery design and logo, there is speculation that the subsidiary airline, Air India Express, will also undergo a new look too.

According to the website Mint, which has been in contact with sources aware of the development, Air India Express will take on a bold new look from October 2023.

“The font of Air India Express on the livery will be similar to that of the new ‘Air India Sans’ font. The tail pattern will have a variety of designs like the current Air India Express fleet. The first plane with the new branding will be launched in October, when the airline gets its first new Boeing 737 Max aircraft,” the publication was told by an airline official.

The airline, which is owned by Tata Group, is said to be debating whether the new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will be the first to wear the new livery or alternatively the honor will be bestowed on an Airbus A320neo.

“The paint job for our initial Boeing 737 Max will be executed in India. Consequently, a decision will be made closer to the launch date regarding the inaugural aircraft,” another official told Mint.

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
The 5 x B777-200LRs dry-leased from Delta are to be registered as follows :

New Regn. Old Regn.

VT-AEE N704DK
VT-AEF N702DN
VT-AEG N706DN
VT-AEH N707DN
VT-AEI N708DN

Meanwhile, the three existing LRs in the fleet will also be retained.
VT-ALF Jharkhand
VT-ALG Kerala
VT-ALH Maharashtra



The last of the 5 leased ex-DL 777LRs, VT-AEI, named "Uday", has been delivered to Air India today.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2023 11:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/131132-merged-air-india-express-to-add-fifty-b737-max-report

Merged Air India Express to add fifty B737 MAX - report

23.08.2023

Air India Express (IX, Mumbai International) is poised for rapid growth after its expected merger with fellow budget carrier AirAsia India (I5, Bangalore International) by late March 2024 and the addition to its fleet of about fifty B737 MAX by December 2024, reports BusinessLine newspaper in Delhi.

This will allow the Air India (AI, Mumbai International) subsidiary to grow its West Asian network and introduce new domestic and international routes, including Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.

No further details on the fleet additions were disclosed. ch-aviation has reached out to Air India Express for comment.

Focused initially on medium-haul travel to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Air India Express was restrained by fleet limitations despite a solid financial position, according to BusinessLine. A business plan drafted in 2018 projecting a fleet of 50 aircraft by 2025 was hindered by disinvestment and COVID-19 disruptions.

However, B737 MAX deliveries are due to start in September 2023 amid the ongoing merger process with AirAsia India. The merger is expected to be finalised by late March 2024 and will lead to a unified fleet and network under AIX Connect, as the merged entity will be called. According to BusinessLine, the airline expects to add 23 more aircraft by March 2024, primarily for international routes. New domestic flights from Bangalore International, Hyderabad, and cities in Kerala are also planned.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Air India Express currently operates a fleet of twenty-six B737-800s, while AirAsia India operates thirty A320s, including twenty-five A320-200s, five A320-200Ns, with eight A321-200NX due.

Both airlines will transition to the new brand, operating as a single corporate entity, using a single air operator’s certificate (AOC). They already have a common website and call centre. The next stage will be the integration of staff. About 150 new pilots have been recruited in the last 18 months.

The integration involves route restructuring, network planning, employee integration, recruitment, and training. A new logo and livery will be introduced. The rebranding will occur in phases to ensure seamless operations.

The merger forms parts of a broader consolidation programme amongst Tata Sons airlines that will also see Air India merge with Vistara (UK, Delhi International).

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2023 5:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/131145-air-india-to-establish-aircraft-leasing-subsidiary

Air India to establish aircraft leasing subsidiary

24.08.2023

Air India will establish an aircraft leasing unit in the special economic zone in India's Gujarat state known as IFSC Gift City, according to the Hindu Business Line outlet. The new wholly Air India-owned leasing entity will be known as AI Fleet Services IFSC Limited.

The carrier's six A350-900s, due to start arriving later this year, will arrive under an AI Fleet Services IFSC Limited financial lease. Air India Chief Financial Officer Vinod Hejmadi and company secretary Kalpana Rao are slated to take senior management and board roles at the leasing entity, which will have an authorised capital of INR500 million (USD6 million) and paid-up capital of INR300 million (USD3.62 million). Beyond the six A350s, AI Fleet Services IFSC Limited will supply aircraft to Air India and its subsidiary airlines via operating and finance leases.

Air India placed an order for 470 aircraft earlier this year, sourced from Boeing and Airbus. More recently, ch-aviation has reported that Air India will take a portion of those planes on an outright purchase basis while intending to source the majority of them under sale/lease-back terms. The A350-900s, among the first aircraft in the order to be delivered, include airframes originally destined to go to Russian carriers.

Documentation obtained following an August 7 committee meeting of the IFSC Special Economic Zone (SEZ) approval committee stated, "Free on-board value for the export (inflow) of services for five years is projected at INR16.85 billion (USD203.7 million) with a projected import (outflow) of foreign exchange at INR16.75 billion (USD202.5 million), resulting in a net foreign exchange of INR93 million (USD1.1 million). The project cost is estimated at INR72.53 billion (USD876.9 million)."

Dipesh Shah, IFSC Gift City's director of development, told the news outlet that the special economic zone was working to attract airline leasing customers, offering tax breaks for ten years from business profits, no capital gain tax, no stamp duty, and no GST on transactions carried out through the entity. "GIFT IFSC provides a level playing field for undertaking aircraft leasing services," he said. "We have already registered around 22 leasing firms, and 100 plus assets are leased in India. We welcome Air India's move, and we hope it pushes other airlines to follow suit."

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PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 8:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:

First A359 for AI, ntu by SU, repainted in all white before AI livery application.



Air India’s first Airbus A350-900, and first airliner in new livery is to be registered VT-JRM.
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
Air India’s first Airbus A350-900, and first airliner in new livery is to be registered VT-JRM.


The second A359 is to be registered VT-JRH, followed by the third as VT-JRI.
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/manish-malhotra-to-design-air-india-crew-s-new-outfit-saree-uniforms-likely-to-be-phased-out-sources-11695707953069.html

Manish Malhotra to design Air India crew’s new outfit, saree uniforms likely to be phased out: Sources

26 Sep 2023

In a move that may surprise many, Air India is contemplating a change in the uniforms of its female cabin crew. For the last 60 years, flight attendants have donned sarees, a traditional Indian outfit. However, the national carrier may soon opt for modern attire, abandoning the saree, a source within the airline has revealed to the Hindustan Times.

Air India's new wardrobe is expected to be unveiled by November 2023, according to the insiders who chose to remain anonymous. While Manish Malhotra, the designer reportedly tasked with updating the uniform, refrained from making any comments due to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), officials acquainted with the matter have revealed to HT that other traditional alternatives such as churidars are under consideration. Men are expected to continue wearing suits.

A second official within the airline hinted that sarees might not be completely eliminated from the uniform choices. The source indicated that ready-to-wear sarees, designed to resemble traditional ones without requiring intricate draping, were among the options put forth for consideration.

Another insider confirmed that the colour scheme of the new uniforms would align with Air India's new uniform, featuring shades of deep red, aubergine and gold. Following the merger with Vistara, the new attire is expected to be adopted by the latter's cabin crew as well.

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/132307-air-india-express-set-to-take-first-b737-max

Air India Express set to take first B737 MAX

27.09.2023

Air India Express has scheduled the delivery flight of its first B737-8, from Seattle Boeing Field via Reykjavik Keflavik and Kuwait to Hyderabad International, for September 28-30, 2023, to be followed by a second on September 29-October 1, 2023, ch-aviation schedule analysis has revealed.

As previously reported, the LCC's first B737 MAX will be units originally earmarked for Chinese airlines. ch-aviation research shows the first aircraft, VT-BXA (msn 61639), was poised to deliver to Shanghai Airlines while the second, VT-BXD (msn 61658), was not taken up by China Eastern Airlines.

The aircraft will be delivered to India in Shanghai Airlines' and an all-white livery, respectively, and will be repainted in India.

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PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2023 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/air-india-acquires-indias-first-airbus-a350-900-aircraft-through-gift-city-101695963287248.html

Air India acquires India's first Airbus A350-900 aircraft through GIFT City

Sep 29, 2023

Air India is the country's first scheduled carrier to have acquired an aircraft from an entity registered in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

Air India on Friday said it successfully acquired India's first Airbus A350-900 aircraft through a finance lease transaction with HSBC. It is the airline's first financing transaction from its record-setting orders for 470 aircraft.

According to the statement issued by the airline, Air India is the country's first scheduled carrier to have acquired an aircraft from an entity registered in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

Air India’s first A350-900 is also the first widebody aircraft to have been leased through India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The transaction was facilitated by AI Fleet Services Limited (AIFS), a 100% subsidiary of Air India, and a GIFT IFSC-registered finance company, the statement added.

“This landmark transaction marks the beginning of our aircraft leasing business from GIFT IFSC, as AIFS will be the primary Air India Group entity for widebody aircraft financing, playing a pivotal role in the future aircraft financing strategy for us and our subsidiaries", Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer, Air India, said in the statement.

“It is also a shot in the arm for the development of a robust aviation ecosystem in India. As a flag-bearer of the country, Air India is happy to support the Government of India’s efforts to develop an aircraft leasing hub in GIFT IFSC,” said”, Aggarwal added.

Dr. Dipesh Shah, executive director, IFSCA, said “The government of India has taken several initiatives to develop the aircraft leasing ecosystem at IFSC in India. IFSCA has been working with the stakeholders to develop regulatory enablers for aircraft leasing and financing".

"The steps taken by Air India by establishing a finance company for the purpose of aircraft leasing and financing at IFSC will go long way in developing IFSC as a preferred destination for aircraft leasing and financing in India as well as globally," Shah added.

The first of Air India’s six Airbus A350-900 is expected to arrive in India by the end of this year, with the remainder aircraft scheduled for deliveries through March 2024.

In addition to the six Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the airline's firm orders for 470 new aircraft include 34 A350-1000, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 777X widebody aircraft, as well as 140 Airbus A320neo, 70 Airbus A321neo and 190 Boeing 737MAX narrowbody aircraft.

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PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 5:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India Express has added a new 737-Max 8 to the fleet today, as VT-BXA.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 5:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The second of the ex-EY 777-300ERs has been delivered today as VT-AEQ.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India Express has added a new 737-Max 8 to the fleet today, as VT-BXD.
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2023 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
The second of the ex-EY 777-300ERs has been delivered today as VT-AEQ.


Named "Sadhavi".
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