Dubai International has welcomed Air India’s inaugural flights from the cities of Indore and Kolkata (Calcutta). The thrice weekly service from Indore is the first international flight out of the city, which is the commercial capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Dubai International has welcomed Air India’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to arrive from the city of Kochi, Kerala, with a traditional water salute. The crew and representatives of the airline were welcomed at a cake cutting ceremony at Concourse D.

Vietjet has signed a memorandum of understanding with Air India for cooperation on the supply of aviation services connecting Vietnam and India. The deal was signed in New Delhi by vice president of Vietjet Air, Dinh Viet Phuong, and director of commercial for Air India, Pankaj Srivastava.

Air India has played host to the first ever Star Alliance Chief Executive Board Meeting held in India. This follows the national carrier’s joining the world’s longest serving and most comprehensive airline alliance in July last year. Speaking to both local and foreign media in New Delhi, Rohit Nandan, managing director at Air India, thanked all attending chief executives for travelling to India and for a productive two-day meeting.

Star Alliance has welcomed Air India as a full member of its global family of airlines, opening the national carrier’s strong domestic network in the fifth largest aviation market to Star Alliance customers worldwide. Air India now offers all Star Alliance customer benefits across its network and Air India’s customers enjoy the same benefits when they travel on any of the other 26 Star Alliance member airlines.

Air India has started operations of its direct flight between India and Italy. The airline will operate flights from Delhi to Rome (Fiumicino, Leonardo da Vinci Airport) and Milan (Malpensa Airport).