Air India launches non-stop flight to Dubai from Kolkata
NEW DELHI: Air India (AI) on Tuesday launched its non-stop flight service to Dubai from Kolkata, responding to a long-standing demand for direct flights to the Gulf city. Inaugurating the flight at the NSC Bose International Airport here, AI Regional Director Sanjay Mishra said the new service has evoked a lot of enthusiasm among the […]
Pakistan airspace closure: Indian airlines lost Rs 550 crore, Air India Rs 491 crore
NEW DELHI: Due to closure of airspace by Pakistan, national carrier Air India lost Rs 491 crore till July 2, according to data presented by Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Private airlines SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir lost Rs 30.73 crore, Rs 25.1 crore and Rs 2.1 crore, respectively, the […]
Finance Ministry to rework proposal for Air India sale after considering oil price
NEW DELHI: The Finance Ministry is preparing a fresh proposal for sale of Air India, incorporating issues like crude oil prices and exchange rate volatility, flagged by EY last year on possible reasons of the government failing to attract bidders for the national carrier. The ministry’s proposal, to be placed before Air India Specific Alternative […]
Air India to start services on three routes
NEW DELHI: Air India will begin services on Mumbai-Patna-Amritsar and Mumbai-Nairobi routes from September 27, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday. The minister also said that the national carrier will launch its operation on Delhi-Chennai-Bali route from October 27. “I am delighted to announce that on the occasion of World Tourism Day […]
Air India to start Amritsar-Delhi-Toronto flight from September 27
NEW DELHI: Air India will start Amritsar-Delhi-Toronto flight, which will fly three times during a week, from September 27, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday. Puri, who is currently a Rajya Sabha member, had fought the 2019 General Elections from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, but lost to Congress’ Gurjeet Singh Aujla. […]
Prepare FY19 financials as PMO wants quick disinvestment: Aviation ministry asks Air India
NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry has told Air India that it should prepare 2018-19 financials for itself and its subsidiaries by end of June as the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has decided to speed up the disinvestment process of three of its wings, according to an official document. After a botched attempt to sell […]
Interact with media only after CMD’s authorisation, Air India tells staff
NEW DELHI: Air India has cautioned its employees of “appropriate action” if they interact with the media without prior authorisation in writing from the airline chief, according to a communication. In the communication dated April 30, the airline said there have been instances where employees have interacted with the media or posted videos in uniform […]
Air India chief meets SBI chairman over leasing 5 Boeing planes from Jet Airways
NEW DELHI: Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani held preliminary talks with his State Bank counterpart Rajnish Kumar in the Capital Friday on the national carrier’s interest in leasing five Boeing 777s from the now-grounded Jet Airways, sources close to the development said. The meeting lasted for over more than an hour at the Airlines House, […]
Air India CMD Pradeep Singh Kharola appointed Civil Aviation secretary
NEW DELHI: Air India chief Pradeep Singh Kharola has been appointed Civil Aviation secretary as part of a minor bureaucratic reshuffle effected on Wednesday, according to an official order. Kharola, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, was in November 2017 named chairman and managing director of Air India Ltd. The vacancy had come […]
Air India plans to enter leisure travel space with packaged holidays
NEW DELHI: Debt-ridden national carrier Air India is planning to enter the holiday packages business to enhance its share in the fast-growing leisure travel segment. The airline has floated global bids for selecting a service provider for this purpose. Besides international carriers, most domestic airlines, including the budget carriers, also offer tailor- made holiday packages […]
Government eyes about Rs 7,000 crore from Air India sale
NEW DELHI: The government of India is eyeing around $1 billion (about Rs 7,000 crore) from the sale of national carrier Air India in the next financial year, a government official said. The government will initiate the process of strategic disinvestment of Air India in the second half of 2019-20 and in between it would […]
Government plans hiring professionals for Air India top positions through global search
NEW DELHI: The government of India plans to rope in professionals for top positions at Air India through a global search process, as part of efforts to revive the national carrier, according to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu. With the proposed strategic stake sale of the Air India failing to take off in May this […]
Government has prepared revival plan for Air India
NEW DELHI: The government of India has prepared a revival plan for Air India that provides for a comprehensive financial package, differentiated strategies for each of the airline’s core businesses and robust organisational reforms, minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha said on Thursday. Various initiatives to turnaround Air India, which is staying afloat […]
‘From time to time, government is providing support to Air India’
NEW DELHI: The government of India is providing required support to debt-laden Air India from time to time and no money is being given to the airline without checks and balances, a senior official said Monday. The national carrier, which is staying afloat on taxpayers’ money, is working on ways to revive its fortunes. Civil […]
Air India eyes Rs 800 crore from sale of over 70 properties
MUMBAI: Loss-making national carrier Air India plans to mop up Rs 700-800 crore by selling over 70 residential and commercial properties spread across the country, a senior airline official said on Thursday. This fresh bid is a part of the airline’s real estate assets monetisation plan approved by the then UPA government in 2012. As […]
Air India gets Rs 1,000 crore from National Small Savings Fund
NEW DELHI: Cash-strapped Air India Ltd has raised Rs 1,000 crore from the National Small Savings Fund and expects to mop up Rs 500 crore through short-term borrowings next week, an official at the airline said, on condition of anonymity. Air India will use the funds to mainly meet its working capital requirements. The fresh […]