Air India News
Indian airports on high alert following terrorist threat
Airports in India have been advised to step up security following a series of intelligence reports suggesting a possible terrorist attack. Officials were on high alert with warnings a Delhi-Kabul flight operated by state-run Air India could be targeted by Islamist groups.
Air India welcomes Star Alliance to Delhi
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.
Gazpromneft-Aero starts refueling Air India in Russia
Gazpromneft-Aero has started supplying aviation fuel for regular flights to Russia by the Indian national carrier Air India in Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport. Gazpromneft-Aero currently supplies aviation fuel for Air India flights on the Delhi-Moscow route conducted on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft four times a week.
Air India joins Star Alliance
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 set for Star Alliance membership in July
The chief executives of the Star Alliance network have unanimously approved the membership of Air India, clearing the way for the national carrier to become the first Indian airline to join a global airline alliance. The integration teams at Air India, Star Alliance and its member carriers will now complete the last necessary work in order to ensure that Air India can offer all Star Alliance customer benefits from July 11th, 2014 onwards.
Air India commences operations to Rome and Milan
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).
Hong Kong Airlines signs codeshare deal with Air India
Hong Kong Airlines has signed a code share agreement with Air India. The agreement enables passengers to book on HKA while with Air India as the operating carrier to an expanded network of destinations.
Air India joins Star Alliance
Air India’s forthcoming membership of Star Alliance will be a welcome start to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) governmental term, according to aviation intelligence expert OAG. As the BJP’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises to revive economic growth in India, Air India’s new position will improve India’s connectivity to high-growth economies and give Star Alliance members access to India’s vibrant domestic air market.
Air India set to resume Star Alliance integration
At their board meeting held in Vienna today, the chief executives of the Star Alliance member airlines decided unanimously to recommence the integration process with Air India. “Star Alliance has long held the opinion that India is such an important aviation market that it should be fully represented in the Alliance,” said Mark Schwab, Star Alliance chief executive.
Etihad to purchase five Boeing 777-200LR from Air India
Etihad Airways has announced its intention to purchase from Air India five Boeing 777-200 LRs, the longest range passenger aircraft in operation to support its accelerated network growth plan. The two carriers signed a letter of intent in Mumbai earlier this week paving the way for the deal.
Tourism Australia welcomes Air India non-stop flights
Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said securing direct flights was essential if Australia was to secure its share of the 50 million Indians expected to be travelling outside of their own country by the end of this decade.
Birmingham taps into Indian tourism market
Birmingham’s new Air India flight, now operating four times weekly between Birmingham Airport and Delhi, will see improved services for visitors as the city looks to build its growing Indian tourist market. With some 13,500 people visiting Birmingham from India each year, the West Midlands remains the most popular region outside of the south-east for Indian tourists.