Page 3 - Airlines

Tapping the frequent flyers: How Jet Airways set the standard in 1994

The concept of frequent-flyer programme (FFP) was pioneered by American Airlines with its AAdvantage Frequent Flyer programme, launched in May 1981

Air India flight from Kerala diverted to Chennai; several MPs on board

Congress MP KC Venugopal was among the passengers on the flight, he described the experience as 'frighteningly close to tragedy'

India a key market, aiming to be core service provider: Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines plans to strengthen its position in India, aiming to be a core service provider, leveraging the country's growing aviation market and strategic partnerships with IndiGo and Air India

2,458 flights hit by regulatory, geopolitical issues: Govt tells LS

Airlines cancelled or rescheduled 2,458 flights due to regulatory and geopolitical issues this year, the civil aviation ministry told the Lok Sabha on Thursday. In a written reply, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said airlines incur costs due to delays and cancellations, including additional fuel, crew overtime, maintenance, airport fees, and rebooking expenses. Airlines are required to provide refunds or compensation to passengers for cancellations or significant delays. "Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-June 2025 registered a growth of 7.34 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year," the minister said. This year, IndiGo and Air India cancelled or rescheduled 1,017 flights and 662 flights, respectively. SpiceJet cancelled or rescheduled 334 flights while the count for Air India Express stood at 427 and in the case of Akasa Air, it was 18 flights, as per the data shared with the written reply. These flights, .

Southwest replaces Chairman Rakesh Gangwal after less than one year in job

Doug Brooks, a Southwest board member for more than 15 years, has been tapped for the chairman job

Air India plane's auxiliary power unit catches fire after landing at Delhi

The Air India flight AI315 was operating from Hong Kong to Delhi; all passengers and crew are safe, while the aircraft has been grounded for investigation, the airline said

Air India Delhi-Kolkata flight aborts take-off run due to technical glitch

The airline confirmed that all passengers onboard the flight were safely disembarked following the incident

Air India to partially resume international flights from August 1

Air India plans partial resumption of international routes from August after AI171 crash, with full restoration of curtailed services targeted by October 1

Amsterdam crucial point for connecting with rest of Europe, America: IndiGo

Expanding its international wings, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has said Amsterdam will be an important point to connect with the rest of Europe and North America and highlighted it is a "fit for purpose" airline. IndiGo, India's largest airline with a domestic market share of 64 per cent, is fast expanding its overseas reach with new routes and partnerships. Marking the foray into Europe, IndiGo this week, commenced direct services from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam, with Elbers describing the launches as a "momentous occasion". "I think the story now is by touching in Europe. The change is much more profound than just two new destinations. It's a change of product. It's a change in some of the partnerships. It's a change of profile," Elbers told PTI. With a fleet of more than 400 planes, IndiGo flies to over 90 domestic and 40 overseas destinations, with the latest additions being the start of services to Manchester and Amsterdam on July 1 and 2, respectively. Elbers said Amste

Parliament panels to review civil aviation safety, AI171 crash next week

Standing Committee and PAC to hear Civil Aviation Ministry, regulators and airlines next week on safety issues, fees regulation and the Air India AI171 crash in June

Akasa Air's net loss widens to ₹1,983 crore in FY25 as costs, delays rise

Akasa Air's FY25 loss rose nearly 19 per cent year-on-year amid forex, staff and maintenance costs and slow aircraft deliveries, though it remains cash positive

Qantas jet takes 15-hour flight to nowhere due to West Asian crisis

The Boeing Co. 787 jet departed Perth for the usual 17-hour haul to Paris at 7.35 p.m. local time Monday

Airlines weigh Mideast cancellations after US strikes leave many stranded

With Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed due to war, the Middle East route is vital for Europe-Asia flights, but FlightRadar24 showed empty skies over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel

Airlines keep avoiding West Asian airspace after US strikes on Iran

Missile and drone barrages in an expanding number of conflict zones globally represent a high risk to airline traffic

Airlines forced to take longer detours as tensions rise in West Asia

The Iran-Israel conflict has added to the troubles faced by the aviation industry, which is already facing challenges after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Air India crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12

'Bomb threat' diverted Lufthansa flight lands at Hyderabad from Frankfurt

A Lufthansa flight to Hyderabad that was forced to make a U-turn and return to land at Frankfurt Airport due to a bomb threat landed in the Telangana capital on Monday night local time. A passenger on board told PTI that the plane had landed safely, with the pilot apologising for the inconvenience caused by the delay due to matters beyond their control. "The flight took off and is expected to land at 23:18 hrs, Lufthansa said in response to a query earlier. Flight tracker website Flightaware.Com data showed Sunday's aborted flight en route to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Flight LH752 had earlier departed from Germany on Sunday afternoon local time and was scheduled to land at the Hyderabad airport in the early hours of Monday, but Lufthansa said it had to be turned around over a bomb threat, with passengers provided overnight accommodation. "Out of an abundance of caution, Lufthansa flight LH752 from Frankfurt to Hyderabad returned to its point of departure aft

IndiGo reroutes West Asia flights via Doha amid Iran airspace closure

IndiGo makes technical stops in Doha and Air India reroutes via Egypt as Iranian airspace closure causes congestion and delays amid ongoing regional hostilities

Veteran hands, tragic end: Pilots mourn Ahmedabad Air India crash

Air India pilots SAID that Ahmedabad airport has long been known for bird activity near the runway, which could have contributed to the incident

Air India crash: I would like to express deep sorrow, says CEO Wilson

Campbell Wilson expresses sorrow over AI 171 crash carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew, assures full support for victims and families as Air India aids investigation

Airlines facing skewed value chain, profit margin never crossed 5%: IATA

Airlines are grappling with a skewed value chain globally and historically, the profit margin has never crossed 5 per cent, according to IATA Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen. Also, she expressed hope that any efforts to address making the airline value chain less skewed will surely be an example for other countries. India is one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation market. At an interaction in the national capital this week, Thomsen said the skewed value chain for the global airlines industry is also a result of legacy policies. Thomsen is the Chief Economist & Senior Vice President Sustainability at the International Airport Transport Association (IATA), a grouping of over 350 airlines. "Nobody sat down from the beginning and said, I'm going to create a super skewed value chain and make sure that the airlines never make any money. "I don't think anybody had that intent. But unfortunately, that's sort of where we've ended up. And our industry globally has never made