Page 3 - Air India

Air India to cut costs, reduce flights as war worsens financial struggles

Air India plans cost cuts and flight reductions as the Iran war, soaring fuel prices and weak demand deepen the airline's financial troubles

Air India delays increments, asks staff to cut costs amid industry woes

Air India has deferred annual salary increments and urged employees to cut discretionary spending amid rising fuel prices and geopolitical disruptions

Air India defers annual increments by one quarter amid cost-cutting drive

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Friday asked the employees to suspend discretionary spending and defer non-critical expenditures as he emphasised the need to cut down on costs in these "tough times", according to sources. The management of the loss-making airline, which has been facing multiple headwinds especially due to the West Asia conflict, told staff that layoffs are not anticipated. Wilson, along with Chief Financial Officer Sanjay Sharma and Chief Human Resources Officer Ravindra Kumar GP, addressed the airline's employees during a townhall on Friday. As per the sources, Kumar said Air India will proceed with variable pay for the last financial year and continue with planned promotions while annual increments will be deferred by at least one quarter in light of the uncertain economic environment. "We don't anticipate layoffs," he said. Calling for a relentless focus on costs in these tough times, Wilson urged employees to suspend discretionary spending, renegotiate rates

Air India board holds meet, discusses costs, new CEO amid West Asia crisis

Air India board reviews mounting FY26 losses, cost cuts and CEO succession plans as fuel prices and West Asia disruptions hit operations

Air India board meets in Delhi as airline faces multiple headwinds

Air India's board of directors met in the national capital on Thursday amid the loss-making airline facing multiple headwinds in the wake of the West Asia conflict. The meeting is expected to discuss various issues, including financials and cost-saving measures. Discussions related to the selection of a new CEO are also likely at the board meeting. Current CEO and MD Campbell Wilson will be stepping down later this year. Airspace curbs and higher jet fuel prices due to the West Asia conflict are adversely impacting the airline, which is in the midst of an ambitious transformation plan. Operational costs have gone up significantly in recent months for the carrier. Against this backdrop, the airline is mulling various cost-saving measures. Sources said the board meeting started after 11 am on Thursday. Specific details about the agenda for the meeting could not be ascertained. Air India board is chaired by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. Wilson, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh

Air India CEO search narrows to Singapore Air exec Kannan, insider Aggarwal

The choice of a new CEO comes at a crucial time for Air India, which is grappling with heavy losses, heightened regulatory scrutiny after a deadly crash last year

Air India board to meet May 7; cost-saving steps, CEO selection on agenda

As headwinds persist for the loss-making Air India, its board is expected to discuss cost-saving plans, selection of the next CEO, financials, and other issues during the meeting scheduled for May 7, according to sources. Headwinds for the Air India Group, which is projected to have incurred more than Rs 22,000 crore loss in the financial year ended March 2026, have multiplied with the West Asia conflict. In the midst of an ambitious transformation plan, the Tata Group-owned airline is also scouting for a new CEO as incumbent and Singapore Airlines Group veteran Campbell Wilson will be stepping down later this year. The sources said the board, chaired by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, will meet in Mumbai on May 7. Various cost-saving measures, CEO succession plans, financials for 2025-26 fiscal year as well as other issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting, the sources said. Tata Sons and Air India did not offer comments. As part of stringent measures to save

Air India CEO search narrows to Vinod Kannan, Nipun Aggarwal: Report

Singapore Airlines holds a roughly 25% stake in Air India, with the rest owned by Tata Sons

Air India to cut int'l flights till July on fuel surge, airspace curbs

Loss-making Air India will reduce its international flights till July, as the airspace curbs and surge in jet fuel prices have made many routes unprofitable, its CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said on Friday. "We have reduced some flying for April and May...massive rise in jet fuel prices which, together with airspace closures and longer flying routes, have caused many of our international flights to become unprofitable to operate," he told the staff in a message. Airspace restrictions in the wake of the West Asia conflict have forced the airline to take longer routes for many international destinations, resulting in increased fuel burn. Wilson, who has announced plans to step down later this year, said the airspace and jet fuel price situation remains extremely challenging. The situation leaves the airline with no choice "but to further trim schedules for June and July", he added. "We very much regret the disruption to our customers' plans and our crew's rosters, and h

Govt issues SOP for hub-spoke model for int'l flights; A-I trials in June

The civil aviation ministry has issued the standard operating procedure for operationalising the hub and spoke aviation model to ensure smooth domestic to international connectivity for passengers, and Air India is expected to start trials based on the model in June, according to sources. The Hub and Spoke (H&S) model will provide smooth connectivity for passengers travelling from spoke airports to international destinations through a hub or larger airport. One of the sources said Air India is expected to start trial H&S flights from Varanasi airport from June 1. Passengers will take a flight from Varanasi to Delhi and then another flight to London. The move is part of efforts to make India, one of the world's fastest domestic civil aviation markets, as a global aviation hub. Under the model, Domestic to International (D-I) and International to Domestic (I-D) operations will be facilitated in a smoother manner for passengers, including in terms of immigration processes and ...

High costs, connectivity major issues at Noida airport: IndiGo, Air India

IndiGo and Air India flag high tariffs and poor connectivity at Noida airport, warning of higher fares and slower traffic growth despite operator's defence of pricing

Air India flight makes emergency landing in Bhopal after technical snag

The airline said the aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew members disembarked without any incident

Singapore Airlines deepens role at Air India amid losses, safety concerns

While relying on its minority shareholder for operational support, Tata Group, which owns 74.9% of Air India, is focusing on commercial, human resources, finance and information technology functions

Airlines in no hurry to move to Navi Mumbai airport, says Air India

Air India flags higher tariffs, poor connectivity, and dual-operation costs as hurdles to shifting flights to Navi Mumbai Airport, challenging expectations of rapid airline migration

Air India aims to complete B787-8 retrofit programme by Q1 2028

There are 26 legacy B787-8 planes in Air India's fleet, said the airline's Chief Customer Experience Officer Rajesh Dogra

Air India expects to complete retrofit of 7 more Boeing 787-8 planes

Air India expects to complete retrofitting of seven more legacy Boeing 787-8 planes this year as it upgrades the fleet of these aircraft that is key to the airline's long-haul operations. The loss-making carrier, which is in the midst of an ambitious transformation plan, has received the first of its retrofitted legacy Boeing 787-8 plane, which has 250 seats in three class configuration of business, premium economy and economy. The plane landed in the national capital on April 13. Air India's Chief Customer Experience Officer Rajesh Dogra on Sunday said the airline expects to complete retrofitting of a total of eight legacy Boeing 787-8s this year. This includes the plane that landed on April 13. On Sunday, the airline unveiled the retrofitted, twin-aisle B787-8 (VT-ANT) that underwent a nose-to-tail cabin refresh. According to Dogra, 85 per cent of the legacy Boeing 787-8 planes retrofit is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and retrofitting of all such aircraft is likel

Missed connections and baggage woes? Air India's new tie up solves this

The partnership enables single-ticket itineraries combining Air India and WestJet flights, offering smoother journeys, coordinated baggage handling, and simplified journeys for travellers.

Singapore Airlines CEO meets Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong held meetings with Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and other senior executives on Thursday. Both sides are believed to have detailed discussions on loss-making Air India. Goh Choon Phong arrived at the Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group, on Thursday morning and left in the evening. Tata Group acquired Air India from the Indian government in January 2022, and later Singapore Airlines purchased a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline. A source said that he met Chandrasekaran, who is also the Air India Chairman, and other senior executives. Details about the meetings with the Tata Group executives could not be immediately ascertained. The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of Air India facing multiple headwinds, including spiralling operating costs due to the airspace curbs in the wake of the West Asia conflict and the closure of Pakistan airspace for nearly a year now. These restrictions have forced the airline,

Singapore Airlines CEO to hold talks with Tata executives on Air India ops

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong will be meeting senior Tata Group executives on Thursday, and both sides are expected to have detailed discussions on loss-making Air India. Goh Choon Phong arrived at the Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group, on Thursday morning. Tata Group acquired Air India from the Indian government in January 2022, and later Singapore Airlines purchased a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline. A source said he would be meeting senior Tata Group executives. Details about his planned meetings with the Tata Group executives could not be immediately ascertained. According to reports, the Singapore Airlines CEO will be meeting Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of Air India facing multiple headwinds, including spiralling operating costs due to the airspace curbs in the wake of the West Asia conflict and the closure of Pakistan airspace for nearly a year now. These restrictions have forced the

Air India seeks funds from Tata, Singapore Air after ₹22,000 crore loss

Size of the infusion from the majority shareholders is still being discussed but may be less than what the carrier needs, meaning Air India would have to look for other financing options