Page 40 - Air India

India may suspend flight ops to Israel amid escalating Iran-Israel conflict

Indian airlines are altering flight paths for Europe and the Middle East due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel

West Asia tensions: AI, Vistara opt for alternative paths for flights

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Air India, and Vistara on Saturday said they have decided to opt for alternative flight paths for some of its flights to and from India. On Friday, India asked its citizens not to travel to Israel and Iran amid increasing fears that Tehran may launch an attack on Israeli soil in retaliation to a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria 11 days ago. While Air India and Vistara did not elaborate on the alternative flight paths, two persons in the know said carriers are avoiding the Iranian airspace while flying to destinations in the West. "We are closely monitoring the developing situation in the Middle East. Presently, our aircraft will operate on alternative flight paths to and from India, according top priority to the safety of our passengers and crew," an Air India spokesperson said in a statement. Air India is the only Indian carrier that operates flights to Israel. It has four weekly flights connecting Delhi and Tel Aviv. In a ...

Air India operationalises five new contact centres to assist customers

Air India has operationalised five new contact centres, including in Cairo and Kuala Lumpur, to provide assistance to its customers worldwide. The Tata Group-owned airline has partnered with Concentrix, a California-headquartered customer engagement firm, to manage premium services from centres in Mumbai, Cairo, and Kuala Lumpur. Besides, the carrier has signed up iEnergizer to operate contact centres in Noida and Bengaluru, focusing on domestic inquiries, a release said on Friday. Recently, Air India introduced a premium desk for its premium frequent flyer members as well as business and first-class guests. In the release, the airline said it has implemented a comprehensive back-office insourcing strategy to manage emails, social media, and chat support internally to assist the customers. "A 24/7 grievance management desk promptly addresses all customer queries, escalations and provides round-the-clock support," it added.

Vistara working on flight plans beyond May 24, worst is over: CEO

'Challenging start to new financial year', says Vinod Kannan after airline had to cancel 150 flights between March 31 and April 4

Air India to start Delhi-Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam flights from June 1

Air India will start direct flights from the national capital to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from June 1. The airline will use A320 neo aircraft with a two-class configuration to operate the flights five days a week -- Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, according to a release on Wednesday. The flights will commence from June 1. "The new service will also enable convenient one-stop connections to Vietnam via Delhi for travellers from the US, Canada, UK, and Europe," the release said. Currently, Air India flies non-stop flights to Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket (Thailand), and Yangon (Myanmar).

Air India plans to send narrow body A320 pilots on deputation to Vistara

Tata Group-owned Air India is planning to send a set of first officers who can operate the narrow body A320 family planes to Vistara, which is grappling with pilot woes, according to multiple sources. The pilots will be send to Vistara on deputation, subject to getting necessary regulatory approvals. Air India and Vistara did not offer any comments. The sources told PTI that some first officers who can operate A320 family planes will be send to Vistara on deputation. Two of the sources said the number of narrow body pilots likely to be deputed to Vistara could be a little over 30. One of the sources said it will be the first time that pilots from Air India will be deputed to Vistara for operating narrow body aircraft. For operating Vistara's wide body Boeing 787 planes, around 24 pilots are already on deputation from Air India. They include 16 commanders and eight first officers, the source said. Vistara, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has cut its

AIESL union threatens strike on April 23 over salary, promotion issues

New service agreement unfairly treats permanent vs FTE staff with disparity in notice period and benefits

Air India's aircraft technicians planning strike amid mounting woes

Its staff are upset over lack of career advancement opportunities because they haven't been promoted in the past seven years, according to the letter

A-I takes cognizance of fabric issues flagged in new cabin crew uniforms

Air India has received feedback on the new cabin crew uniforms, including about fabric issues, and will soon start their production for all the cabin crew after taking into consideration the inputs, according to people in the know. In December, the Tata Group-owned airline unveiled the new uniforms, designed by Manish Malhotra, for its cabin and cockpit crew. Initially, the uniforms were introduced with much fanfare for crew members of the carrier's A350 aircraft. When contacted, an Air India spokesperson on Monday said production programme for the uniforms for all its cabin crew members will start in about a week's time. Two persons in the know said there are some issues with the fabric used for the new uniforms, including that colour was fading fast. Another person said the feedback on the uniforms will be taken into consideration before starting production for all crew members. "Air India can confirm that the uniform sizing and production programme for our over 8,000-strong ca

Air India gets feedback on new cabin crew uniforms, including fabric issues

Air India has received feedback on the new cabin crew uniforms, including about fabric issues, and will soon start their production for all the cabin crew after taking into consideration the inputs, according to people in the know. In December, the Tata Group-owned airline unveiled the new uniforms, designed by Manish Malhotra, for its cabin and cockpit crew. Initially, the uniforms were introduced with much fanfare for crew members of the carrier's A350 aircraft. When contacted, an Air India spokesperson on Monday said production programme for the uniforms for all its cabin crew members will start in about a week's time. Two persons in the know said there are some issues with the fabric used for the new uniforms, including that colour was fading fast. Another person said the feedback on the uniforms will be taken into consideration before starting production for all crew members. "Air India can confirm that the uniform sizing and production programme for our over 8,000-strong ca

Air India, BIAL sign agreement to develop Bengaluru airport as hub

According to Cirium, the Bengaluru airport presently manages approximately 5,145 flights per week. Tata-run airlines operate 1,538 of these flights weekly to and from Bengaluru airport

Air India, BIAL sign MoU to develop Bengaluru as premier aviation hub

The partnership is aimed at expanding air connectivity as well as building maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities at the Bengaluru airport

Air India appoints Jayaraj Shanmugam as head of global airport operations

Jayaraj Shanmugam has previously worked with renowned companies such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Jet Airways

Air India hired over 5,700 people in FY24, including over 3,800 flying crew

Air India hired more than 5,700 employees, including over 3,800 flying crew, in the financial year ended March 31, as part of the five-year transformation plan to revive the fortunes of the airline. As part of expanding its presence, the carrier launched 16 new routes, including 11 international ones, in the last financial year. It inducted four A320 neos, 14 A321 neos, eight B777s, and three A350s during this period. In his message to the staff on Friday, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said the airline has onboarded the first batch of cadet pilots who will soon commence ground training with its partner flying schools in the US later this month. "Also, after much hard work, our cabin crew team also cleared the backlog of training batches -- and marked the release-to-service of our 4000th new crew member since privatization!," he said. According to a communication highlighting the activities done during the take off phase of the five-year Vihaan.AI plan, the airline hired more

One-third of Air India's staff hired in last two years: CEO & MD Wilson

Vistara airline, which is a 51:49 joint venture of the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is in the process of being merged into Air India

Air India pilots join Vistara crew in voicing concerns over fatigue, pay

The pilots said they're made to rack up maximum flying hours, face difficulties in having leave approved and deal with unstable rosters, according to the letter dated April 4

'Bonded labour': Air India pilot unions extend support to Vistara

Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. Air India is a completely owned airline of the Tata Group. Vistara is in the process of being merged into Air India

Tata group's Vistara could cut flights amid pilot shortage: Report

The cancellations and delays forced India's civil aviation ministry to intervene and monitor the situation, while the aviation regulator has sought daily information on flight disruptions

Air India launches revamped customer loyalty programme with added features

Private carrier Air India on Wednesday launched a revamped loyalty programme with a simplified structure, offering more rewards and added benefits to its customers. In its first overhaul in more than a decade, the revamped loyalty programme -- Flying Returns -- moves away from the legacy model of miles-based collection of points to a fairer, more equitable spend-based approach, Air India said in a statement. Members of the programme will now be able to avail the benefits and collect points based on the new structure, starting Wednesday, it said without divulging the number of the existing members. Some of the features of the revamped programme include no expiry of points for active members, no blackout dates, same tier privileges, collection and redemption across Star Alliance partner airlines worldwide and new customer-friendly digital interface to provide a one-stop platform for transactions, among others, it said.

Amid Vistara flight disruption woes, CEO Vinod Kannan to meet pilots today

Vistara crisis: More than 100 Vistara flights were cancelled in the past two days due to pilots calling in sick, causing significant inconvenience to the passengers