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☆ An ex-flight attendant shares his top pet peeves when it comes to passengers — and it includes swapping seats
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In July, American offloaded a passenger after he got into an argument with a flight attendant. AdvertisementHere are three of Laurie's pet peeves as a flight attendant and how to avoid them. Laurie said passengers should pay for their seats in advance rather than trying to move to other passengers' seats once on board — especially without telling the cabin crew. "Don't 'steal' the seat and think the flight attendant won't notice. "As a crewmember, I always tried to have fun and relate to my passengers," Laurie said.

Persons: Bobby Laurie, Laurie, —, Tungateja, stow, Taylor Rains Organizations: Service, US Airways, Virgin America, Jackets, Airlines, AirAsia, Marielle

☆ Air India is rebranding after years of decline. Here are the biggest changes, from updated uniforms to swanky new Airbus A350s.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The new plane launched on domestic routes, like Bengaluru and Mumbai, in January and will eventually launch overseas, Air India says. It's very likely to fly to the US, though Air India has yet to release specific cities. Air India's business class is also way behind industry standards. Flight attendants and pilots are getting a makeoverIn December, Air India released photos of its new crew uniforms. Ground staff, engineers, and security personnel are also set to get new uniforms, which Air India said it will reveal in "due course."

Persons: —, Campbell Wilson, Taylor Rains, It's, Wilson, Christophe Archambault, Manish Malhotra Organizations: Service, Air India, Tata Group, Air, Business, Tata, Airbus, Boeing, Wings, Paris Airshow, Airbus A320neos, Russian, Aeroflot, India's Boeing, Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Q, Getty Images Air, Air India's Boeing Locations: India, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Air India, AFP, Getty Images Air India, Qatar, Emirates

☆ I flew economy on Air India's old Boeing 777-300ER for 15 hours. The broken seat, light, and TV made for a rough journey.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I flew on Air India's legacy long-haul economy product from Delhi to Newark, New Jersey. The television and the USB port on my seat were broken, making for a rough 15 hours. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAir India may be on the rise with its swanky new Airbus A350, but it can't escape the basket case that is its old long-haul economy product. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Air, Service, Airbus, Boeing, Business Locations: Delhi, Newark , New Jersey

☆ I toured Air India's new A350 business class after flying its old 777 product for 13 hours. The difference is night and day.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Air India is rebuilding its reputation after falling into disarray under state ownership. I found the cabin a major upgrade after flying Air India's old legacy business class for 13 hours. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The Tata Group — which first founded Air India in 1932 before it was nationalized in 1953 — bought back the carrier in 2021. Under renewed management, Air India has vowed to improve its reputation, which has been plagued by broken seats and filthy planes.

Persons: —, it's Organizations: Airbus, Air, Service, The Tata Group, Air India, Business Locations: India, Air India

☆ I flew 13 hours in business class on Air India from New York to Delhi. The seat was awkward and offered no privacy, but wasn't as bad as I feared.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Air India is getting a makeover. During its golden days, Air India was considered a top-tier carrier with fancy on-board bars, lounges, and luxe cabins. However, the government took over in the 1950s and ran Air India into disarray. Under Tata, however, the company has invested hundreds of millions into a total revamp — including everything from updated uniforms to fancy new business class seats. AdvertisementTo see the transformation, I tried out Air India's old — and notoriously awkward — Boeing 777-300ER business class product from New York to New Delhi (Business Insider paid a media rate).

Organizations: India, Tata Group, Air, Tata, Boeing, Business Locations: Air India, New York, New Delhi

☆ I toured Air India's new Airbus A350 — which it hopes will compete with elite competitors like Emirates and Qatar. See inside.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewAir India welcomed its new Airbus A350 in December — a first for the nation's flag carrier — and it's an incredible improvement from the airline's notoriously mediocre product. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The next-generation aircraft represents a new era for Air India, which debuted the Airbus model on Monday. To see the progress, I toured Air India's new A350 widebody at the Wings Airshow in Hyderabad last week — and I think customers have a lot to look forward to.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, India, Airbus, Business, Air India, Tata Group, Air, Wings Locations: Hyderabad

[1/2] A miniature airplane is placed on the displayed Air India Express and Akasa Air logos, in this illustration taken October 30, 2023. Akasa did not comment on its communication with Air India, but said the issue of pilot exits was "now behind us ... we are squarely back in growth mode". Air India declined to comment and the two chief executives did not respond to requests for comment. The dispute comes at the time of a hiring spree by Air India, with its arm, Air India Express, seeking to more than triple its fleet to 170 over five years. In recent weeks, Akasa has lost about a tenth of its 450 pilots, who left without serving out notice periods, some to join Air India Express.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Campbell Wilson, Vinay Dube, missive Dube, Akasa, Wilson, Dube, India's Wilson, Aditya Kalra, Aditi Shah, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Air India Express, REUTERS, Tata's, India Express, Air, Akasa, Reuters, Air India, Tata Group, Tata, of Indian Pilots, Thomson Locations: India, DELHI, Air India

☆ Air India unveils new logo in rebranding push under Tata Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Aditi Shah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File PhotoNEW DELHI/BENGALURU, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Tata Group on Thursday unveiled a new logo, branding and plane livery for Air India as part of a multi-million dollar transformation of the former state-run carrier. The airline's new logo includes a design with golden, red and purple colours, and will replace the old logo of a red swan with orange spokes. Since taking control in 2022, Tata has spent millions of dollars to update Air India's old planes, while also placing an order for hundreds of new jets. "The vision we have for the airline is also in the backdrop of a new resurgent India where the aspirations of everyone are limitless," Air India chairperson N. Chandrasekaran said. Over the past year, Air India has expanded its network and flights to several new domestic and international destinations, but it still faces challenges in operating a seamless and timely schedule of flights.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Campbell Wilson, Tata, Chandrasekaran, Wilson, Aditi Shah, Ganesh, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, Tata Group, Air India, Tata, IndiGo, Emirates, Air, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, DELHI, BENGALURU, India, Air India, Bengaluru

It is a new challenge for formerly government-owned Air India, which Tata Group took over last year. The CCI, Air India and Vistara did not immediately respond to requests for comment. To address the CCI's concerns, Air India could make concessions such as giving up certain routes or reducing frequency, the second source said, adding that Air India remains confident the matter can be resolved by recommending certain changes. Vistara and Air India both fly on international routes such as London and Dubai and would need antitrust clearances in other jurisdictions, the first source said. Air India is expecting similar queries from foreign countries once it applies for clearance there, but is waiting for the India process to first close, the source added.

Persons: Vistara, Vaibhav Choukse, India's J, Choukse, Aditi Shah, Aditya Kalra, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Vistara, Air India, Tata Group, Tata, Air, The, of India, Singapore Airlines, India's, Sagar Associates, IndiGo, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Air India, India, London, Dubai

But it was surpassed on day one of the Paris show by Indian rival IndiGo's (INGL.NS) order for 500 Airbus narrowbody jets. Air India said it was worth $70 billion at list prices, though airlines typically get discounts on big orders worth at least half the headline price, analysts say. The Airbus part comprises 210 A320neo and A321neo narrowbody jets and 40 A350 widebodies. "Our ambitious fleet renewal and expansion programme will see Air India operate the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft across our route network within five years," Air India Chief Executive Campbell Wilson said in a statement. The mega-order will also put Air India on a stronger footing to compete with budget rival IndiGo, which has a majority share of the Indian market and a strong position in regional flights.

Persons: Royce, Campbell Wilson, LUDOVIC MARIN, Lars Wagner, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Allison Lampert, Valerie Insinna, Aditi Shah, Mark Potter Organizations: India, Airbus, Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines, Paris, Air India, Air, Reuters Graphics Air, Visitors, International Paris Air, Le, Royce, Aero Engines, Tata, Emirates, IndiGo, . Leasing, Avolon, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Thomson Locations: PARIS, India, Paris, Air India, France

That deal, sketched out in February, was at the time the largest ever announced by number of planes. But it was surpassed on day one of the Paris show by Indian rival IndiGo's (INGL.NS) order for 500 Airbus narrowbody jets. Reuters GraphicsAir India's provisional deal included 250 planes from Airbus and 220 from Boeing. The Airbus part comprised 210 A320neo narrowbodies and 40 A350 widebodies, while the Boeing deal was for 190 737 MAX, 20 787 Dreamliners and 10 mini-jumbo 777X. Together with another 25 Airbus jets to be leased, the overall acquisition reaches 495 jets, an Airbus executive said at the time.

Persons: Royce, narrowbodies, Lars Wagner, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Allison Lampert, Valerie Insinna, Aditi Shah, Mark Potter Organizations: Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, Paris, Airbus, Boeing, Reuters Graphics Air, Royce, Aero Engines, Tata, Emirates, Air, IndiGo, . Leasing, Avolon, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Thomson Locations: PARIS, India, Paris, Air India

The world's largest air show, which alternates with Farnborough in Britain, is at Le Bourget for the first time in four years after the 2021 edition fell victim to the pandemic. On the civilian side, planemakers arrived with growing demand expectations as airlines rush for capacity to meet demand and help reach industry goals of net zero emissions by 2050. REUTERS/Benoit TessierIndiGo's deal highlights the growing importance of India, the world's fastest-growing aviation market, serving the largest population, to planemakers. In another key market, Airbus said Saudi budget airline flynas had firmed up an order for 30 of its A320neo-family narrowbody aircraft, confirming a Bloomberg report. France's Thales (TCFP.PA) also announced a contract from Indonesia for 13 long-range air surveillance radars.

Persons: Le Bourget, Emmanuel Macron, planemakers, Sash Tusa, Benoit Tessier IndiGo's, there's, Pieter Elbers, flynas, Avolon, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Allison Lampert, Valerie Insinna, Aditi Shah, Julia Payne, Nandan Mandayam, Mark Potter, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Airbus, Defence, Indian, Paris, Reuters, Air India's, Boeing, Farnborough, French Rafale, Industry, Partners, Air, REUTERS, Saudi, Bloomberg, Kyiv, Rafale, Eurofighter, Thales, Mexico's Viva, Thomson Locations: Paris, PARIS, Britain, UKRAINE, European, France, Germany, Spain, Le Bourget, India, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Belgium, Franco, Spanish, Indonesia, Air India

[1/2] A model of a Future Combat Air System (SCAF), a European aircraft developed by France, Germany and Spain is displayed during the 54th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 19, 2023. On the civilian side, planemakers arrived with growing demand expectations as airlines rush for capacity to meet demand and help reach industry goals of net zero emissions by 2050. In another key market, Airbus said Saudi budget airline flynas had firmed up an order for 30 of its A320neo-family narrowbody aircraft, confirming a Bloomberg report. France's Thales (TCFP.PA) also announced a contract from Indonesia for 13 long-range air surveillance radars. The planemaker is also close to a potentially large order for narrow-body jets from Mexican low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus, industry sources said on Sunday.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Le Bourget, Emmanuel Macron, planemakers, there's, Pieter Elbers, flynas, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Allison Lampert, Valerie Insinna, Mark Potter Organizations: Air, Paris, REUTERS, Airbus, Defence, Indian, Reuters, Air India's, Boeing, Farnborough, French Rafale, Industry, Saudi, Bloomberg, Rafale, Eurofighter, Thales, Qantas, Viva Aerobus, Thomson Locations: European, France, Germany, Spain, Le Bourget, Paris, PARIS, Britain, India, Ukraine, Belgium, Franco, Spanish, Indonesia

The multibillion-dollar deal is the largest ever by number of aircraft, eclipsing Air India's provisional purchase of 470 jets earlier this year as India's two largest carriers plan for a sharp expansion in regional travel demand. With the growth of India (and) the growth of the Indian aviation market ... this is the right time for us to place this order," IndiGo Chief Executive Pieter Elbers told a news conference. Indian carriers now have the second-largest order book, with an over 6% share of the industry backlog, behind only the United States, according to a June 1 report by Barclays. After signing the IndiGo deal, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said it was premature to start thinking about narrowbody jet production rates higher than the planned 75 per month. It continues to hold separate talks with Airbus and rival Boeing (BA.N) for 25 widebody planes, which could either be Airbus A330neos or Boeing 787 jets, sources have said.

Persons: there's, Pieter Elbers, Guillaume Faury, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Aditi Shah, Mark Potter Organizations: Airbus, Paris, Air, Reuters, Barclays, Boeing, Thomson Locations: India, United States

☆ 'People just want their jets.' Paris Air show returns as Boeing, Airbus race to increase production
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee works at the Airbus A350 assembly site, in Colomiers near Toulouse, south-western France, on December 9, 2022. A lot has changed in the four years since one of the aviation industry's biggest air shows was held in person. The question is whether Boeing , Airbus and their numerous suppliers can catch up. Over the past year, Boeing has logged large orders or preliminary agreements from customers including United Airlines , Saudia and new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air. Air India's massive order earlier this year included both Boeing and Airbus jets.

Persons: —, Andy Cronin, Stuart Hatcher, Hatcher Organizations: Airbus, Paris Air, Boeing, Aviation, United Airlines, Riyadh Air, Air, Turkish Airlines, Air Lines, Malaysia Airlines, Air France, KLM, Air Baltic Locations: Colomiers, Toulouse, France, Saudi, Riyadh

Air India, which is revamping itself under new owner Tata Group, has been rapidly growing its international presence with new non-stop flights to Europe and the United States. Being able to use Russian airspace has come as a boon as it looks to capture a bigger share of the market. IATA Director General Willie Walsh called for an opening up of Russian airspace. "What we would like to see is everybody using Russian airspace. But airlines that can are unlikely to stop using Russian airspace after this diversion, said James Halstead, managing partner at Aviation Strategy.

Persons: Stringer, Campbell Wilson, Wilson, Scott Kirby, Kirby, Willie Walsh, Walsh, James Halstead, Vinod Kannan, India's, it's, Air India's Wilson, I'm, Aditi Shah, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, United Airlines, Air, Air India, International Air Transport, Tata Group, Reuters, Airlines, Aviation, Singapore Airlines, Thomson Locations: Sheremetyevo, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Stringer ISTANBUL, U.S, India, Europe, Asia, Brussels, Air India, Istanbul, Air, United States, Russia's Far

☆ Airbus heads towards 500-jet order from IndiGo
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ISTANBUL, June 4 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA) is closing in on a potentially record deal to sell 500 narrowbody A320-family jets to India's largest carrier, Indigo (INGL.NS), industry sources said on Sunday. The European planemaker has emerged as front-runner for an order eclipsing Air India's historic provisional purchase of 470 jets in February, the sources said on the sidelines of an airline industry meeting in Istanbul. Airbus and Boeing are also competing in talks to sell 25 wide-body jets to the same airline, they said. IndiGo, which is already a major Airbus customer with a large number of planes on order, and the France-based planemaker both declined comment. Reporting by Tim Hepher, Aditi Shah and Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tim Hepher, Aditi Shah, Joanna Plucinska, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Airbus, Boeing, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, Istanbul, France

ISTANBUL, June 4 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA) is closing towards a potentially record deal to sell 500 narrow-body A320-family jets to India's largest carrier IndiGo (INGL.NS), industry sources said on Sunday. Airbus and Boeing (BA.N) are also still competing in separate talks to sell 25 A330neo or Boeing 787 wide-body jets to the same airline, the industry sources said. IndiGo is already one of Airbus's largest customers and has so far ordered a total of 830 Airbus A320-family jets of which nearly 500 are still to be delivered. IndiGo aims to double its capacity by the end of the decade and expand its network, especially in international markets. The airline has a codeshare partnership with seven carriers including Turkish Airlines, American Airlines and KLM.

Persons: Pieter Elbers, Carsten Spohr, Elbers, Tim Hepher, Aditi Shah, Joanna Plucinska, Hugh Lawson, David Holmes, Susan Fenton Organizations: Airbus, Boeing, IndiGo, International Air Transport Association, Reuters, Turkish Airlines, Barclays, Lufthansa Group, American Airlines, KLM, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, Istanbul, United States, Europe

☆ Boeing rival Airbus nears record order for 500 planes from India's largest airline, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Jason Ma | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Airbus is near a deal to sell 500 A320 narrow-body planes to IndiGo, Reuters reported. That would make it the largest order ever by volume, topping Air India's 470-plane deal in February. Boeing rival Airbus is near a deal to sell 500 planes from the A320 narrow-body family of jets to India's largest airline, IndiGo, Reuters reported on Sunday. Meanwhile, Airbus and Boeing are also in talks to sell 25 wide-body jets to IndiGo, the report added. That's in contrast with Air India's massive order, which was split between 220 Boeing planes and 250 Airbus planes.

Persons: isn't, IndiGo didn't, Dave Schulte Organizations: Airbus, Reuters, Air, archrival Boeing, Morning, Boeing, IndiGo, Insider, Reuters . Budget, Max, Asia Pacific Locations: IndiGo, Istanbul, India

☆ Disheartened Go First pilots rush to Air India's jobs drive
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Tanvi Mehta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, May 4 (Reuters) - Dozens of pilots, many from crisis-hit Go First, flocked to a Tata group hotel near Delhi on Thursday for walk-in interviews with the conglomerate's Air India airline. Air India said on Twitter the hiring drive in Delhi and Mumbai would be extended by a day to Friday. An Air India spokesperson told Reuters it had received more than 700 applications in response to an advert last week for pilots, which it is currently processing. Go First and Vistara - a Tata group joint venture with Singapore Airlines - declined to comment. A planned merger of Air India with Vistara and the launch of Akasa Air have increased competition for staff and planes as the industry recovers.

☆ An American Airlines passenger peed on another traveler on a New York to India flight, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi flight is accused of urinating on a fellow passenger while inebriated. An American Airlines passenger urinated on another traveler midflight, according to local media reports. "American Airlines flight 292 with service from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport was met by local law enforcement upon arrival in DEL due to a disruption on board," an American Airlines spokesperson told Insider. At the beginning of March, a 21-year-old student reportedly urinated on another passenger who was asleep on an American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi. In January, Wells Fargo fired an employee who was accused of urinating on a fellow passenger while on Air India's New York to Delhi flight in November.

☆ Air India's plans to modernise under new owner Tata
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

2022June 15 - Campbell Wilson, the New Zealand-born former CEO of Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) budget offshoot Scoot takes over as Air India CEO. July 4 - Air India signs a deal to adopt Amadeus IT Group's (AMA.MC) Altea software, including for revenue management. Nov. 2 - Air India completes a deal to acquire 100% of AirAsia India and begins to integrate it with Air India Express as part of a broader restructuring of Tata's airline business. Nov. 29 - Tata says it will merge Air India with Vistara, its joint venture with Singapore Airlines. Feb. 13 - Air India resumes non-stop service between Mumbai and New York, weeks after the launch of non-stop Mumbai-San Francisco.

[1/2] An Air India Airbus A320neo passenger plane moves on the runway after landing at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, in Ahmedabad, India, October 22, 2021. In another sign of the formerly government-owned carrier's whirlwind transformation under its new owner Tata Group, Air India is testing ChatGPT, OpenAI's popular chatbot, to replace paper-based practices. Air India is not only reworking every aspect of operations - from systems to supply chains - but integrating four Tata-related airlines, with Air India due to merge with Vistara while low-cost Air India Express and AirAsia India also converge. Airline mergers in India have had little success with Air India still hobbled by the botched integration of Indian Airlines in 2007. Air India's planes are already a mix of Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing (BA.N) jets with multiple cabin configurations.

☆ India's travel industry may not overtake China soon but there are still 'massive' opportunities
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesIndia's airline industry may be on a strong growth trajectory — but don't expect India's outbound travel to overtake China's soon, aviation analysts say. "The gap between China and India is huge," Lalitya Dhavala, valuations consultant at travel analytics firm Cirium told CNBC. India's robust growth trajectoryThe analysts agree there's potential for growth in India's domestic and international travel market. In comparison to China, India has a larger share of young adults, with 40% of its population under 25 years old, Dhavala said. Late last year, Indian conglomerate Tata Group announced that Vistara will merge with national carrier Air India by March 2024.

[1/2] An Air India Airbus A320 plane is seen at the Boryspil International Airport upon arrival, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak outside Kiev, Ukraine May 26, 2020. "India is now at that inflection point," Scindia said during an interview at his office in New Delhi. "We are going to see an explosion of air traffic in India in the years to come," he said, adding he wanted domestic carriers to look at international expansion with greater focus. Air India last month placed a record order for 470 jets and is making an aggressive push in the international market. Scindia said India was not looking at increasing air traffic quotas with Gulf states and instead wanted Indian carriers to offer non-stop long haul flights on larger planes.

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