News for 'Air India group of airlines'

Air India bans smoking, consumption of intoxicating substances at workplace

Air India bans smoking, consumption of intoxicating substances at workplace

Rediff.com19 May 2022

The Tata Group-run Air India has banned smoking and consumption of intoxicating substances at the workplace and any employee violating this order will be "dealt with appropriate consequences", the airline's Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Suresh Dutt Tripathi has stated. It was not clear what was the trigger for Wednesday's communique. Air India did not respond to PTI's request for statement on this matter.

Air India Building's High-Flying Days Ends

Air India Building's High-Flying Days Ends

Rediff.com17 Apr 2023

India's first escalator, its shortest elevator, a terror attack, a rescue operation -- the building's seen a lot.

Ilker Ayci declines Tata Group's offer to be CEO & MD of Air India

Ilker Ayci declines Tata Group's offer to be CEO & MD of Air India

Rediff.com1 Mar 2022

Ilker Ayci has declined the Tata Group's offer to be the chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director of Air India, aviation industry sources said on Tuesday. On February 14, Tata Sons had announced the appointment of Ayci, former chairman of Turkish Airlines, as the CEO and MD of Air India. RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch had last Friday said the government should not give clearance to the appointment of Ilker Ayci "keeping in view national security".

Air India places order for 840 aircraft; includes option to buy 370 planes: Official

Air India places order for 840 aircraft; includes option to buy 370 planes: Official

Rediff.com16 Feb 2023

Tata Group-owned Air India has placed an order for 840 planes with Airbus and Boeing, including the option to acquire 370 aircraft, with a senior airline official on Thursday saying the order is a "landmark moment" in the Indian aviation history. The announcement by Air India's Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer Nipun Aggarwal comes a day after the airline said it has placed a firm order for 470 aircraft -- 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing. In a LinkedIn post, Aggarwal said the airline is humbled by the excitement generated across the world by the airline's aircraft order.

Peeing incident: Air India reviews liquor policy; pilot, crew grounded

Peeing incident: Air India reviews liquor policy; pilot, crew grounded

Rediff.com7 Jan 2023

Tata Group-owned Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Saturday apologised for a flyer urinating on a fellow female passenger on a flight from New York in November, and said four cabin crew and a pilot have been de-rostered and the airline is reviewing policy of serving alcohol on flights.

Air India: Will JRD Tata's Legend Return?

Air India: Will JRD Tata's Legend Return?

Rediff.com14 Oct 2021

J R D Tata and Air India... Mrigank Warrier explores one of India's eternal love stories.

Air India finalises deal with Airbus for buying around 250 planes

Air India finalises deal with Airbus for buying around 250 planes

Rediff.com9 Feb 2023

Air India has finalised an order for around 250 aircraft with Airbus and the deal is expected to be announced next week, a source said on Thursday. The source in the know also said the airline has signed a deal with Boeing for about 200 planes. Specific details could not be immediately ascertained and there was no immediate comments from Air India about the deals.

What happens to Air India's Rs 16,000 cr unpaid bills?

What happens to Air India's Rs 16,000 cr unpaid bills?

Rediff.com11 Oct 2021

The government will transfer about Rs 16,000 crore of unpaid fuel bills and other pending dues that Air India owes to suppliers, to a special purpose vehicle before handing over the loss-making airline to the Tata Group, a senior official said. Air India Assets Holding Ltd (AIAHL), which will hold non-core assets of Air India such as land and building, will also be saddled with 75 per cent of the airline's debt that the Tata Group is not taking over. Besides the debt, the excess liability going to AIAHL comprises unpaid fuel bills to oil companies, airport operators and vendors, said Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management - the department running the privatisation programme of the government.

Tatas, US-based fund among Air India bidders

Tatas, US-based fund among Air India bidders

Rediff.com14 Dec 2020

Salt-to-software conglomerate Tata group was among "multiple" entities who on Monday put in preliminary bids for buying the government's stake in loss-making carrier Air India.

'Tatas will bring Air India to former glory'

'Tatas will bring Air India to former glory'

Rediff.com5 Feb 2022

'All they need is proper leadership.'

IndiGo crisis: DGCA grills CEO for 2nd day; sacks 4 flight ops inspectors

IndiGo crisis: DGCA grills CEO for 2nd day; sacks 4 flight ops inspectors

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Aviation regulator DGCA intensifies scrutiny of IndiGo following widespread flight cancellations. The airline will offer travel vouchers to affected passengers.

Air India plans to hire expat pilots for wide-body planes

Air India plans to hire expat pilots for wide-body planes

Rediff.com21 Nov 2022

Tata group-owned Air India plans to hire expat pilots for its Boeing 777 planes as the airline is facing a shortage of pilots amid plans to expand its fleet as well as international operations, according to sources. The carrier is looking to rope in around 100 pilots for the wide-body Boeing 777 fleet and has approached various agencies that provide expat flight crew to airlines, the sources told PTI. The loss-making Air India, which was under government ownership for nearly seven decades till the Tata group took over in January 2022, had stopped hiring expat pilots many years ago to save costs.

Air India leases six A320 neo aircraft from Chinese bank

Air India leases six A320 neo aircraft from Chinese bank

Rediff.com9 Nov 2022

Air India has leased a fleet of six Airbus A320 neo aircraft from CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co Limited, to boost the Tata Group-owned company's transformation journey, a statement said on Wednesday. The leasing agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Asia Pacific 2022 conference, said the CDB Asia statement. CDB Aviation is among the first aircraft leasing companies to secure the placement of Air India's additional A320 neo aircraft under the recently announced multi-stage transformation plan since the purchase of the airline by Tata group, which aims to increase the carrier's fleet and help it boost both domestic and international operations.

'Nothing As Heartbreaking As This'

'Nothing As Heartbreaking As This'

Rediff.com17 Jun 2025

'We consider everyone who lost someone in this tragedy as part of our family -- now and forever.'

Air India processes refunds worth over Rs 150 crore after privatisation

Air India processes refunds worth over Rs 150 crore after privatisation

Rediff.com27 Sep 2022

Air India said on Monday that it has processed passengers refunds of more than Rs 150 crore during the first few months after its privatisation. After winning the bid for Air India on October 8 last year, the Tata Group took charge of the airline on January 27. Since then, the airline has been taking multiple steps to address the legacy issues such as stuck refunds.

Air India pilots seek Ratan Tata intervention in revamped salary structure issue

Air India pilots seek Ratan Tata intervention in revamped salary structure issue

Rediff.com25 Apr 2023

Air India pilots, who are up in arms against the airline's management's decision to unilaterally alter their salary structure and services conditions, on Tuesday sought Ratan Tata's intervention in resolving the issue. In a petition, signed by a little over 1,500 Air India pilots, the community alleged that the "pilots' concerns are not being heard or addressed by the current HR team". On April 17, Air India rolled out a revamped compensation structure for its pilots and cabin crew, which has since been rejected by the two pilot unions - Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) - on the grounds that the airline, in alleged violation of the labour practices, did not consult them before finalising the new contracts.

Air India 'peeing' incident: Experts call for stricter punishment

Air India 'peeing' incident: Experts call for stricter punishment

Rediff.com9 Jan 2023

Air India's handling of an incident in which an inebriated male flier allegedly urinated on a woman co-passenger suggests an urgent need for stricter rules to deal with unruly passengers, according to legal and aviation experts.

How Air India pilots are fleecing the airline

How Air India pilots are fleecing the airline

Rediff.com25 Jun 2018

Apparently, the losses to the airline due to this scam are now running into crores of rupees.

Will take considerable effort to rebuild Air India: Ratan Tata

Will take considerable effort to rebuild Air India: Ratan Tata

Rediff.com8 Oct 2021

Ratan Tata on Friday welcomed the government accepting Tata Sons' bid of Rs 18,000 crore for the takeover of Air India, saying the airline provides a very strong market opportunity to the group even through it will take considerable effort to rebuild the debt-laden carrier. "Welcome Back, Air India," he said. "The Tata Group winning the bid for Air India is great news," he said in a statement.

Direct long-haul flights, policy push key to Indian airports' hub ambition: CEOs

Direct long-haul flights, policy push key to Indian airports' hub ambition: CEOs

Rediff.com22 Aug 2025

Indian airports' push to become global hubs will depend on reducing passenger leakage to rival airports abroad, scaling up direct long-haul connectivity, and offering transfer experiences that are faster, smoother, and more attractive than those of regional competitors, said panellists at the Business Standard Infrastructure Summit on Thursday.

Cabinet clears Air India disinvestment

Cabinet clears Air India disinvestment

Rediff.com28 Jun 2017

Jaitley did not say if it will be an outright sale or partial divestment.

Air India will require more than 6,500 pilots for 470 planes

Air India will require more than 6,500 pilots for 470 planes

Rediff.com17 Feb 2023

Air India will require more than 6,500 pilots to operate 470 aircraft that are to be supplied by Airbus and Boeing in the coming years, according to industry sources. Seeking to expand fleet as well as operations, the airline has placed orders for acquiring a total of 840 aircraft that includes an option to buy 370 planes. This is one of the largest aircraft order by any airline. Currently, Air India has around 1,600 pilots to operate its 113 aircraft fleet and in recent times, there have been instances of ultra-long haul flights getting cancelled or delayed due to shortage of crew.

Air India gives more time to pilots to accept revised compensation structure

Air India gives more time to pilots to accept revised compensation structure

Rediff.com9 May 2023

Air India has given more time to pilots to accept the revised compensation structure, which has been opposed by two pilot unions, according to a source. The decision to provide more time to pilots who are yet to sign the new contracts also comes days after Air India organised a town hall meeting with many pilots to discuss their concerns. The source said the airline has given time till the end of this week for signing the new contracts apparently due to requests from people who had not earlier accepted the revised compensation structure.

Air India to buy wide-bodied A350 aircraft, first order since 2006

Air India to buy wide-bodied A350 aircraft, first order since 2006

Rediff.com16 Jun 2022

The Tata Group-owned Air India has decided to procure its maiden batch of wide-bodied A350 aircraft of Airbus and the first plane is likely to be delivered to the airline by March 2023, sources have said.

Tata may get Air India, but...

Tata may get Air India, but...

Rediff.com7 Oct 2021

The Tatas are rather overwhelmed with some facets of the airline they have discovered, but even more unnerved by what they may not have yet uncovered, reveals Anjuli Bhargava.

Air India to launch new flights to New York, Paris, Frankfurt

Air India to launch new flights to New York, Paris, Frankfurt

Rediff.com23 Nov 2022

Tata Group-owned Air India on Wednesday announced the launch of new flights connecting Mumbai with New York, Paris and Frankfurt, starting February next year. Besides, the full-service carrier also announced the resumption of non-stop flights connecting Delhi with Copenhagen, Milan and Vienna. The Mumbai-New York (JFK International Airport) daily service will commence from February 14 next year, Air India said.

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran appointed head of Air India

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran appointed head of Air India

Rediff.com14 Mar 2022

N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, has been appointed as the chairman of Air India by the airline's board, aviation industry sources said on Monday.

Tatas, SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh bid for Air India

Tatas, SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh bid for Air India

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

"Financial bids for Air India disinvestment received by Transaction Adviser. Process now moves to concluding stage," DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey tweeted.

Ilker Ayci is first foreign-national to head Air India

Ilker Ayci is first foreign-national to head Air India

Rediff.com14 Feb 2022

The Air India board met on Monday afternoon to consider the candidature of Ilker Ayci and after due deliberations approved the appointment of Ayci as the CEO & MD of Air India, Tata Sons said in a statement.

Ilker Ayci is first foreign-national to head Air India

Ilker Ayci is first foreign-national to head Air India

Rediff.com14 Feb 2022

The Air India board met on Monday afternoon to consider the candidature of Ilker Ayci and after due deliberations approved the appointment of Ayci as the CEO & MD of Air India, Tata Sons said in a statement.

Air India to induct 30 planes over next 15 months

Air India to induct 30 planes over next 15 months

Rediff.com12 Sep 2022

Air India on Monday said it will progressively induct 30 new aircraft, including 5 wide-body Boeing planes, from December this year, as the Tatas-owned airline looks to boost its domestic and international services. The airline has signed leases and letters of intent for inducting 5 wide-body Boeing and 25 Airbus narrow-body planes over the next 15 months. "These new aircraft, which will enter service from late 2022, will increase the airline's fleet by over 25 per cent.

Why Air India didn't report urinating incident to DGCA

Why Air India didn't report urinating incident to DGCA

Rediff.com5 Jan 2023

The aggrieved lady had "rescinded" an initial request for action after the two "appeared" to have sorted out the issue.

DGCA issues show cause notice to Air India over 'peeing' incidents

DGCA issues show cause notice to Air India over 'peeing' incidents

Rediff.com10 Jan 2023

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday said it has issued a show cause notice to Air India regarding two incidents of passenger misbehaviour onboard a flight from Paris to New Delhi last month.

Air India now flying more on metro-to-metro routes

Air India now flying more on metro-to-metro routes

Rediff.com5 Dec 2022

Tata Group-owned Air India, under its new chief executive officer and managing director Campbell Wilson, is optimising its domestic strategy under which the carrier is "densifying" its presence on metro-to-metro routes and exiting from unviable ones, Business Standard has learnt. Wilson took charge on July 25. Air India has increased its flights on metro-to-metro routes such as Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Bengaluru, Mumbai-Chennai, Mumbai-Bengaluru, and Hyderabad-Mumbai between June and November this year.

Why Air India Sale Is Win-Win For All

Why Air India Sale Is Win-Win For All

Rediff.com10 Feb 2022

That such a deal can be greeted with celebration in the camps of both buyer and seller speaks volumes about the airline and its recent history, explains T N Ninan.

Battle for skies: Tatas kick-start Air India fleet expansion via leasing

Battle for skies: Tatas kick-start Air India fleet expansion via leasing

Rediff.com13 Sep 2022

In its first move to significantly expand the fleet after the Tatas took over, Air India has leased 25 Airbus narrow-body aircraft and five Boeing wide-body planes. These will enter service starting December, the company said on Monday. A wide-body plane has a bigger fuel tank, allowing it to travel longer distances such as India-US routes.

Report improper behaviour even if...: Air India CEO to staff

Report improper behaviour even if...: Air India CEO to staff

Rediff.com6 Jan 2023

In an internal communication to airlines' employees, he reflected on the urinating incident to say that "the repulsion felt by the affected passenger is totally understandable and we share her distress.

Flight ops delayed at Mumbai airport as snag hits data network

Flight ops delayed at Mumbai airport as snag hits data network

Rediff.com9 Aug 2025

Though the glitch affected the system for a couple of minutes, it took an hour to fix it, the source said.

Air India's vegetarian menu will help airline save Rs 20 crore annually

Air India's vegetarian menu will help airline save Rs 20 crore annually

Rediff.com9 Aug 2017

Last year, Air India replaced veg and non-veg sandwiches with veg hot meals on flights

Sale: 'Challenge is Air India's huge size'

Sale: 'Challenge is Air India's huge size'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2020

It's too big to digest as one whole airline.'