Air India has announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Campbell Wilson. This strategic appointment comes as the airline navigates expansion amidst significant challenges.
Six individuals, including the alleged mastermind and a website developer, have been arrested for operating a sophisticated fake airline job racket. The fraudsters used social media ads and fake websites to solicit fees for aviation diplomas, promising jobs at Indira Gandhi International Airport, and duped numerous job seekers before being caught.
A flight may be cancelled for reasons beyond an airline's control. The chaos that follows need not be, points out Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
Adani Group-operated Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) is set to begin demolishing a section of its nearly 80-year-old Terminal 1 from January 15, 2027, as part of a major redevelopment plan. This initiative involves redistributing air traffic from T1 to Terminal 2 and the Navi Mumbai International Airport, with significant shifts planned for international and domestic flights starting October 1 and October 25, respectively.
India has significantly reduced Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for international airlines by 27% due to easing global fuel benchmarks, while simultaneously increasing commercial LPG and 5-kg cylinder prices to record highs.
Willie Walsh, former IATA Director General and CEO of British Airways, has officially taken charge as the CEO of IndiGo, India's largest airline, with a mandate to drive global expansion and operational excellence.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) reported a 20.8 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit for Q1 FY27, reaching 357.9 crore, despite macroeconomic headwinds like geopolitical tensions in West Asia impacting international travel and airline catering business.
The Adani Group-owned Navi Mumbai International Airport is slated to commence international passenger and freighter operations from July 15. This marks a significant expansion for the airport, which began domestic services last December. Air India Express and IndiGo are expected to operate international flights, with customs readiness reviews already completed. The airport anticipates a substantial increase in daily passenger footfall and air traffic movements by the year-end.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, experienced intermittent issues with its core reservation platform on Friday, affecting online services for customers. This follows a similar disruption on Wednesday, though the airline stated the issues have since been resolved.
The pilots testing positive have been removed from duty, with their samples sent for confirmatory testing.
The support will be provided to oil-marketing companies (OMCs) in the form of interest-free advances through the ministry of petroleum and natural gas. The OMCs, in turn, will use the fund to provide ATF price stabilisation support to Indian carriers operating domestic and international flights.
Airlines are cutting not only international services but also domestic flights, especially on routes projected to remain unprofitable in the coming weeks due to weak demand and high fares.
Air India and Air India Express are implementing mandatory psychoactive substance testing for all their 5,000+ pilots. This decision follows an incident where the pilot of a Phuket-Delhi flight, which experienced a sudden altitude drop injuring 24 people, tested positive for marijuana. The testing aims to enhance safety standards and reassure passengers.
Air India Group has accumulated losses of about Rs 47,821 crore since its takeover, leaving its prolonged transformation among the biggest unfinished projects of N Chandrasekaran's tenure.
IndiGo Managing Director Rahul Bhatia has stated that the airline has 'taken all the necessary steps' to learn from the operational disruption faced in December last year, while outlining a long-term vision focused on customer trust, international expansion, and establishing India as a global aviation hub.
GE Aerospace is utilising artificial intelligence solutions, developed by its Bengaluru team, to significantly improve aircraft engine inspection, analytics, and maintenance. These innovations have reduced turnaround times by at least five days, enhancing engine durability, reliability, and time on wing, with specific tools like the AI-enabled Blade Inspection Tool cutting inspection times by 50%.
Tata Sons has the balance sheet to support them, for now.
Air India has announced a reduction in international flights and temporary suspension of services on six routes, including Delhi-Chicago, due to airspace restrictions and high jet fuel prices.
Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet have told the government that the country's airline industry is under extreme stress and on the verge of "stopping operations", as they sought revision in ATF pricing and financial support.
Noida International Airport has officially commenced flight operations with an IndiGo flight from Lucknow making the inaugural landing, followed by a takeoff to Lucknow, carrying 172 villagers whose land was acquired for the project.
Nepal Airlines has apologised for a map shared on social media that incorrectly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan, leading to a swift backlash and the removal of the post.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, credited with stabilising Tata Sons after a boardroom coup and overseeing significant expansion, has announced his resignation as chairman, capping a nearly decade-long tenure marked by both successes and escalating tensions with the group's controlling charitable trusts.
The pilot-in-command of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop last week has tested positive for a psychoactive substance, identified by sources as marijuana, in a confirmatory test. This development comes as Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu met with Air India executives to discuss the serious incident, which left 24 people injured.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, has placed a record-breaking order with CFM International for over 1,000 LEAP-1A engines to power its 510 Airbus A320 neo family aircraft. This significant deal, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, also includes extensive MRO support and material services, reinforcing CFM's commitment to the Indian aviation market.
Heavy rainfall in Delhi led to widespread waterlogging and severe traffic congestion, bringing the national capital to a standstill, with the India Meteorological Department issuing a red alert for further heavy rain.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced the state's vision to become a national hub for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, coinciding with the launch of Naviq Technology by IBS Software Group. The state government is implementing initiatives like an AI-powered dashboard, a Global Job Watch Tower, and curriculum revisions to align with technological advancements and foster skill development in AI and semiconductor sectors.
An Air India A320 flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop due to multiple technical glitches, including triple hydraulic failures and autopilot disconnection, injuring 17 people. An investigation by AAIB, with assistance from French agency BEA and Airbus, is underway, while the pilot-in-command is undergoing confirmatory psychoactive substance testing.
=The investigation is examining the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's sudden altitude variation and the actions of the flight crew.
Airports across the country have been placed on operational alert to manage potential flight diversions, unscheduled landings and passenger facilitation requirements.
'We may be able to wind back some of the schedule reductions we'd taken in recent months.'
Researching Japan was like going down a rabbit hole. There is just so much to see and do, but I finally decided we would stick to the 'Golden Route' of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, notes Radhika Mittal.
The government has confirmed that Boeing's detailed examination of the Dreamliner aircraft's fuel control switch locking mechanism found no abnormality, following an Air India pilot's report of a possible issue. This investigation was prompted after an Air India flight from London to Bengaluru in February, and comes amidst an ongoing probe into a fatal Dreamliner crash last year where fuel supply to engines was cut off.
Aviation watchdog DGCA has issued a warning letter to IndiGo for lapses in compliance with norms for handling dangerous goods and has asked the airline to review the relevant training programme to include more practical exercises as well as operational scenarios.
The workers of the airline have been also up in arms, protesting against the decision by the government.
Akasa Air, despite facing headwinds from the West Asia conflict and rising aviation turbine fuel prices, expects to maintain a 30-40 per cent growth trajectory over the next five years and aims for an initial public offering (IPO) within two to four years, according to CFO Ankur Goel.
The broader conflict in West Asia, the largest international market for Indian carriers, has forced a sharp reduction in daily flights relative to the summer schedule.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) reported a healthy 14.6 per cent consolidated revenue growth in Q1 FY27, largely driven by a robust 17.6 per cent increase in domestic operations, offsetting geopolitical disruptions. Brokerages anticipate sustained growth, with Motilal Oswal Research projecting 12-14 per cent growth in FY27, supported by strong leisure demand and an asset-light expansion pipeline.
Aviation fuel prices for domestic airlines remain unchanged, providing stability for local carriers, while commercial LPG and 5-kg cylinders see a significant rate hike due to rising international energy costs.
