India will spend around $12 billion on revamping airports over the next two years, with orders for hundreds of new aircraft to meet the growing travel demand which is adding pressure to the existing airport infrastructure of the country.

India will spend around $12 billion on revamping airports over the next two years, with orders for hundreds of new aircraft to meet the growing travel demand which is adding pressure to the existing airport infrastructure of the country. The goal of the world's fastest-growing aviation sector is to increase the number of airports from the present 148 to 220 by 2025, as per a Bloomberg report. To that end, private builders will contribute roughly $9 billion, with the balance coming from the government-run Airports Authority of India. It entails new terminal construction, greenfield projects, and refurbishment of existing buildings, including old military airfields from the colonial era. With a growing customer base and an expanding economy that is on pace to surpass China's $3.2 trillion in size, India is making more of a global statement with this move. With Air India Ltd.'s announcement of the largest contract in commercial aviation history last month, the nation has already made its imprint in the industry. ALSO READ | India reports over 1,000 new Covid cases for first time in 129 days Jyotiraditya Scindia, the minister of civil aviation, opened the three-day CAPA India Aviation Summit on Monday by declaring that India aims to be a global leader in aviation. From 2022 through 2041, according to Boeing, passenger traffic in India would increase at a rate of roughly 7 per cent per year, compared to 4.9 per cent in China. “The growth in aviation infrastructure will bring a huge amount of economic upside and new airports will improve the quality of life for most people partly because of bad road infrastructure and slow trains in India,” said Jayant Mukhopadhaya, researcher at the International Council of Clean Transportation, who spoke to Bloomberg. In addition to becoming a popular tourist and economic destination, Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to transform India into a top-tier connecting centre. His development plan includes using air as a mode of transportation to connect smaller communities. ALSO READ | Bengaluru auto strike: Why are thousands of drivers protesting against bike taxis? What are their demands? While IndiGo, the country's top airline, is anticipated to place a larger order, Air India, controlled by the country's largest conglomerate Tata Group, has ordered 470 aircraft. India is making additional purchases in an effort to catch up to nations with larger aviation markets, like China. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India to spend $12 bn on airports in next two years as traffic picks up

An Air India crew member was detained in Kerala,&nbsp;for attempting to smuggle gold.&nbsp;Shafi Sharaf, a&nbsp;Wayanad native, had 1,487 gm of gold paste wrapped around his forearms. He intended to enter the green customs clearing lane, which is for travellers without any dutiable goods to report while hiding the gold in his shirt sleeves, as reported by ANI.&nbsp;

The Customs Preventive Commissionerate, however, received confidential information that the Air India cabin crew member of the Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service was carrying gold.

Based on the tip, Sharaf was detained at Kochi Airport. He had wrapped the gold paste over his arms, as seen in a picture released by ANI.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-meet-shaliza-dhami-first-woman-officer-to-lead-combat-unit-in-iaf-570238">India: Meet Shaliza Dhami, first woman officer to lead combat unit in IAF</a>

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Kochi | Air India cabin crew Shafi, a native of Wayanad, was arrested at Kochi Airport for smuggling 1,487 gms of gold. The cabin crew was of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service. Further interrogation underway: Customs Preventive Commissionerate <a href="https://t.co/1nxVzF2fA7">pic.twitter.com/1nxVzF2fA7</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1633491275453177857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The accused landed in Kochi from Bahrain at approximately 8.30 p.m., according to Jagran News. Less than two hours later, at about 10.20 pm, he was taken into custody by the customs preventive wing.

Earlier, gold bars valued at Rs 3.32 crore (INR 33.2 million) were seized at Chennai International Airport from two passengers, one of whom was a citizen of Sri Lanka, who were detained by the customs officials.

Acting on specific information, the authorities detained two travellers who landed in Chennai from Singapore on Tuesday. They found 68 gold bars&nbsp;weighing 6.8 kg&nbsp;hidden in their luggage.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Indian PM Modi &amp; his Australian counterpart visit the world's largest cricket stadium&nbsp;

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Chennai Customs in a tweet said, "Based on Intel, 2 pax who arrived from Singapore by AI-347 and 6E-52 were intercepted by Customs on 07.03.23. On search of their baggage, gold totally weighing 6.8 kg valued at&nbsp;₹&nbsp;3.32 crore was recovered/ seized under the CA,1962. Pax were arrested and further investigation is on."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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An Air India crew member was detained in Kerala, for attempting to smuggle gold. Shafi Sharaf, a Wayanad native, had 1,487 gm of gold paste wrapped around his forearms.

An Air India crew member was detained in Kerala, for attempting to smuggle gold. Shafi Sharaf, a Wayanad native, had 1,487 gm of gold paste wrapped around his forearms. He intended to enter the green customs clearing lane, which is for travellers without any dutiable goods to report while hiding the gold in his shirt sleeves, as reported by ANI. The Customs Preventive Commissionerate, however, received confidential information that the Air India cabin crew member of the Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service was carrying gold. Based on the tip, Sharaf was detained at Kochi Airport. He had wrapped the gold paste over his arms, as seen in a picture released by ANI. ALSO READ | India: Meet Shaliza Dhami, first woman officer to lead combat unit in IAF Kochi | Air India cabin crew Shafi, a native of Wayanad, was arrested at Kochi Airport for smuggling 1,487 gms of gold. The cabin crew was of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service. Further interrogation underway: Customs Preventive Commissionerate pic.twitter.com/1nxVzF2fA7 — ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2023 × The accused landed in Kochi from Bahrain at approximately 8.30 p.m., according to Jagran News. Less than two hours later, at about 10.20 pm, he was taken into custody by the customs preventive wing. Earlier, gold bars valued at Rs 3.32 crore (INR 33.2 million) were seized at Chennai International Airport from two passengers, one of whom was a citizen of Sri Lanka, who were detained by the customs officials. Acting on specific information, the authorities detained two travellers who landed in Chennai from Singapore on Tuesday. They found 68 gold bars weighing 6.8 kg hidden in their luggage. ALSO WATCH | Indian PM Modi & his Australian counterpart visit the world's largest cricket stadium Chennai Customs in a tweet said, "Based on Intel, 2 pax who arrived from Singapore by AI-347 and 6E-52 were intercepted by Customs on 07.03.23. On search of their baggage, gold totally weighing 6.8 kg valued at ₹ 3.32 crore was recovered/ seized under the CA,1962. Pax were arrested and further investigation is on." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Air India cabin crew caught smuggling over 1.4 kg gold at Kochi airport, probe underway

India's renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor on Monday (February 27) shared a picture of the meal he was served onboard an Air India flight, slamming the condition of the food. People often complain about the meals they get while travelling especially during journeys via trains and flights. However, such issues get highlighted when a celebrity points them out.&nbsp;

Kapoor targeted Air India, asking the airline that "is this what Indians should eat for breakfast?" In his tweet, he mentioned that he was travelling from Nagpur to Mumbai.&nbsp;

In the caption, Kapoor wrote: Wake Up @airindiain. Nagpur-Mumbai 0740 flight. Cold Chicken Tikka with watermelon, cucumber, tomato &amp; sev Sandwich with minuscule filling of chopped cabbage with mayo Sugar syrup Sponge painted with sweetened cream &amp; yellow glaze."&nbsp;

He added, "Really !!! Is this what Indians should eat for breakfast??"&nbsp;

Here's the post:&nbsp;

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Really !!! Is this what Indians should eat for breakfast??<a href="https://twitter.com/airindiain?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@airindiain</a>
— Sanjeev Kapoor (@SanjeevKapoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/SanjeevKapoor/status/1630068907510833152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Air India responded to Kapoor's tweet: "We're sorry for the disappointing experience you've had with us. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused."&nbsp;

"However, we've taken note of your valuable feedback with concern. We’ll be sure to surface your comments with the right team as this will help us to improve," the post added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thai-drug-lord-gets-plastic-surgery-to-look-like-handsome-korean-man-police-bust-narcotics-racket-566466">Thai drug lord gets plastic surgery to look like 'handsome' Korean man, police bust narcotics racket</a>

Kapoor shared the images on Monday morning and it got over 167.6K views so far, with people sharing their own experiences.&nbsp;

One user wrote: "I got served cold sandwiches on bangalore mumbai flight today that was not even served in a plate, n best part after landing flight was held for 20mins as no ground bus to carry passengers to terminals @airindiain what an experience"&nbsp;

"@airindiain what are you doing guys ? Not to forget you’re representing India. Enough damage happened lately. Wake up," one user said.&nbsp;

Another user wrote on the microblooging site: The food in Air India is bad...bad is an understatement..it is awful..chennai-mumbai-jaipur. Both legs the food was terrible.. cold and insipid..please wake up Air India and learn from @airvistara"

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India's renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor on Monday (February 27) shared a picture of the meal he was served onboard an Air India flight, slamming the condition of the food.

India's renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor on Monday (February 27) shared a picture of the meal he was served onboard an Air India flight, slamming the condition of the food. People often complain about the meals they get while travelling especially during journeys via trains and flights. However, such issues get highlighted when a celebrity points them out. Kapoor targeted Air India, asking the airline that "is this what Indians should eat for breakfast?" In his tweet, he mentioned that he was travelling from Nagpur to Mumbai. In the caption, Kapoor wrote: Wake Up @airindiain. Nagpur-Mumbai 0740 flight. Cold Chicken Tikka with watermelon, cucumber, tomato & sev Sandwich with minuscule filling of chopped cabbage with mayo Sugar syrup Sponge painted with sweetened cream & yellow glaze." He added, "Really !!! Is this what Indians should eat for breakfast??" Here's the post: Really !!! Is this what Indians should eat for breakfast??@airindiain — Sanjeev Kapoor (@SanjeevKapoor) February 27, 2023 × Air India responded to Kapoor's tweet: "We're sorry for the disappointing experience you've had with us. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused." "However, we've taken note of your valuable feedback with concern. We’ll be sure to surface your comments with the right team as this will help us to improve," the post added. ALSO READ | Thai drug lord gets plastic surgery to look like 'handsome' Korean man, police bust narcotics racket Kapoor shared the images on Monday morning and it got over 167.6K views so far, with people sharing their own experiences. One user wrote: "I got served cold sandwiches on bangalore mumbai flight today that was not even served in a plate, n best part after landing flight was held for 20mins as no ground bus to carry passengers to terminals @airindiain what an experience" "@airindiain what are you doing guys ? Not to forget you’re representing India. Enough damage happened lately. Wake up," one user said. Another user wrote on the microblooging site: The food in Air India is bad...bad is an understatement..it is awful..chennai-mumbai-jaipur. Both legs the food was terrible.. cold and insipid..please wake up Air India and learn from @airvistara" WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Is this what Indians should eat?' Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor slams Air India's in-flight meal

Air India is set to hire around 5,100 crew members this year, which will include 900 pilots and 4,200 cabin crew, as it prepares to expand its fleet by inducting hundreds of aircraft over the next decade.

Since April 2022, the airline has already given employment to 285 pilots and 1,900 cabin crew so far. At the end of January 2022, the Tata Group took over Air India and Air India Express and last week placed a historic order for 470 aircraft (which includes 70 wide-body and 400 single-aisles) and presently has an option for 370 more planes, which the airlines can later convert into a firm order.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/air-india-signs-historic-deal-to-purchase-250-aircraft-from-airbus-its-first-purchase-order-in-17-years-561920">Air India signs 'historic' deal to purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus; its first purchase order in 17 years</a>

Air India, in addition to these developments, has also decided to lease 36 planes, of which they have already inducted two wide bodies into its fleet. The cabin crew, which Air India will recruit from across the country, will attend a 15-week programme through which they will learn safety and service skills, and will be "coached to exemplify the best of Indian hospitality and Tata Group culture".

Between May 2022 and February 2023, over 1,900 cabin crew has been hired by Air India. In the last seven months, between July 2022 and January 2023, Air India has trained over 1,100 cabin crew and in the last three months, they have released 500 cabin crew for flying.

WATCH | Air India amends existing in-flight liquor policy after Pee-gate scandal

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AI's head of inflight services Sandeep Verma said, "With a sizeable aircraft order that was announced earlier in the month, more flights on international and domestic networks, and re-alignment of domestic routes with AIX Connect, cabin crew will play a decisive role in shaping the present and future of the Air India Group. We are also looking to step up hiring of more pilots and maintenance engineers."

Nearly 10 lakh people are employed by the Tata Group across its companies.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Air India is set to hire around 5,100 crew members this year, which will include 900 pilots and 4,200 cabin crew, as it prepares to expand its fleet by inducting hundreds of aircraft over the next decade.

Air India is set to hire around 5,100 crew members this year, which will include 900 pilots and 4,200 cabin crew, as it prepares to expand its fleet by inducting hundreds of aircraft over the next decade. Since April 2022, the airline has already given employment to 285 pilots and 1,900 cabin crew so far. At the end of January 2022, the Tata Group took over Air India and Air India Express and last week placed a historic order for 470 aircraft (which includes 70 wide-body and 400 single-aisles) and presently has an option for 370 more planes, which the airlines can later convert into a firm order. ALSO READ | Air India signs 'historic' deal to purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus; its first purchase order in 17 years Air India, in addition to these developments, has also decided to lease 36 planes, of which they have already inducted two wide bodies into its fleet. The cabin crew, which Air India will recruit from across the country, will attend a 15-week programme through which they will learn safety and service skills, and will be "coached to exemplify the best of Indian hospitality and Tata Group culture". Between May 2022 and February 2023, over 1,900 cabin crew has been hired by Air India. In the last seven months, between July 2022 and January 2023, Air India has trained over 1,100 cabin crew and in the last three months, they have released 500 cabin crew for flying. WATCH | Air India amends existing in-flight liquor policy after Pee-gate scandal AI's head of inflight services Sandeep Verma said, "With a sizeable aircraft order that was announced earlier in the month, more flights on international and domestic networks, and re-alignment of domestic routes with AIX Connect, cabin crew will play a decisive role in shaping the present and future of the Air India Group. We are also looking to step up hiring of more pilots and maintenance engineers." Nearly 10 lakh people are employed by the Tata Group across its companies. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Air India set to hire 5,100 crew members this year, as its fleet expands

The passengers of a Delhi-bound Air India flight who were stranded in Sweden will reach New Delhi on Friday morning, it was revealed. The flight AI 106 from Newark, carrying 284 passengers and eight infants, was diverted to the Swedish capital Stockholm due to technical reasons.&nbsp;

An Air India spokesperson said that a ferry flight will take off from Mumbai on Thursday at 2 PM (Indian Standard Time) and will be ready to take off from Stockholm’s Arlanda airport, on Friday 1 AM (local time).&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-an-air-india-newark-delhi-flight-was-diverted-to-stockholm-564604">Why an Air India Newark-Delhi flight was diverted to Stockholm</a>

Earlier on Wednesday, flight AI 106 landed safely in Stockholm. The on-ground inspection revealed the technical issue to be an oil leak in one of the engines. The flight was operated with a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft. It had 311 people on-board, including 15 cabin crew and four pilots.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Air India to buy over 200 Boeing planes, deal is biggest in aviation history

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Following the incident, in a late evening statement on Wednesday, an Air India spokesperson said the airline was in discussion with the Swedish authorities to seek approval for immigration clearance for some of the passengers who were still at the airport. Following the clearance, the stranded passengers were issued relevant visas and were shifted to a hotel.

The aviation regulator will investigate the incident, an official of the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said in Delhi.

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The passengers of a Delhi-bound Air India flight who were stranded in Sweden will reach New Delhi on Friday morning, it was revealed. The flight AI 106 from Newark, carrying 284 passengers and eight infants, was diverted to the Swedish capital Stockholm due to technical reasons.

The passengers of a Delhi-bound Air India flight who were stranded in Sweden will reach New Delhi on Friday morning, it was revealed. The flight AI 106 from Newark, carrying 284 passengers and eight infants, was diverted to the Swedish capital Stockholm due to technical reasons. An Air India spokesperson said that a ferry flight will take off from Mumbai on Thursday at 2 PM (Indian Standard Time) and will be ready to take off from Stockholm’s Arlanda airport, on Friday 1 AM (local time). ALSO READ | Why an Air India Newark-Delhi flight was diverted to Stockholm Earlier on Wednesday, flight AI 106 landed safely in Stockholm. The on-ground inspection revealed the technical issue to be an oil leak in one of the engines. The flight was operated with a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft. It had 311 people on-board, including 15 cabin crew and four pilots. ALSO WATCH | Air India to buy over 200 Boeing planes, deal is biggest in aviation history × Following the incident, in a late evening statement on Wednesday, an Air India spokesperson said the airline was in discussion with the Swedish authorities to seek approval for immigration clearance for some of the passengers who were still at the airport. Following the clearance, the stranded passengers were issued relevant visas and were shifted to a hotel. The aviation regulator will investigate the incident, an official of the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said in Delhi. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Air India passengers, stranded in Sweden, set to fly back to Delhi on Friday

An Air India flight that took off from Newark in New Jersey, United States, for Delhi was diverted to Sweden capital Stockholm on Wednesday (February 22) following an oil leak incident. A senior official from the Indian aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), quoted in a report by news agency PTI, informed that the oil leak was reported in one of the engines. The engine of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was shut down and the plane landed safely in Stockholm. A ground inspection was initiated and the probe is still on. 
&nbsp; 
This comes two days after another Air India plane from New York to Delhi was diverted to London because of a medical emergency. The passenger concerned, reports said, was taken to a hospital soon after the landing at the Heathrow airport. This, as expected, led to a delay of a couple of hours in arrival at the final destination. &nbsp;

 
Watch: Air India to buy over 200 Boeing planes

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Air India incidents that drew criticism 
The latest incident linked to the Indian airline has drawn the regulator's attention at a time when several domestic carriers are making headlines for wrong reasons, including Air India. Recently the carrier was fined $36,000 after a drunk male passenger urinated on a female co-passenger in November on a New York-Delhi flight. Criticising Air India for handling of the incident, the regulator also penalised the pilot, who lost his license for three months.

Also read: <a href="http://wionews.com/business-economy/air-india-on-a-hiring-spree-with-one-role-paying-as-much-as-rs-2-crore-564281">Air India on a hiring spree with one role paying as much as Rs 2 crore</a>

Days later, the DGCA imposed a $12,000 fine on the carrier for not reporting a similar incident in December. "Enforcement action in the form of the financial penalty of ₹10 lakh has been imposed on Air India for not reporting the incident to DGCA and delaying in referring the matter to its Internal Committee, which is a violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements," it said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

An Air India flight that took off from Newark in New Jersey, United States, for Delhi was diverted to Sweden capital Stockholm on Wednesday (February 22) following an oil leak incident.

An Air India flight that took off from Newark in New Jersey, United States, for Delhi was diverted to Sweden capital Stockholm on Wednesday (February 22) following an oil leak incident. A senior official from the Indian aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), quoted in a report by news agency PTI, informed that the oil leak was reported in one of the engines. The engine of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was shut down and the plane landed safely in Stockholm. A ground inspection was initiated and the probe is still on. This comes two days after another Air India plane from New York to Delhi was diverted to London because of a medical emergency. The passenger concerned, reports said, was taken to a hospital soon after the landing at the Heathrow airport. This, as expected, led to a delay of a couple of hours in arrival at the final destination. Watch: Air India to buy over 200 Boeing planes × Air India incidents that drew criticism The latest incident linked to the Indian airline has drawn the regulator's attention at a time when several domestic carriers are making headlines for wrong reasons, including Air India. Recently the carrier was fined $36,000 after a drunk male passenger urinated on a female co-passenger in November on a New York-Delhi flight. Criticising Air India for handling of the incident, the regulator also penalised the pilot, who lost his license for three months. Also read: Air India on a hiring spree with one role paying as much as Rs 2 crore Days later, the DGCA imposed a $12,000 fine on the carrier for not reporting a similar incident in December. "Enforcement action in the form of the financial penalty of ₹10 lakh has been imposed on Air India for not reporting the incident to DGCA and delaying in referring the matter to its Internal Committee, which is a violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements," it said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Why an Air India Newark-Delhi flight was diverted to Stockholm

Air India's largest-ever plane deal in history will not only disrupt the aviation sector in India but it is also going to result in a massive jump in salaries of the workers including pilots and the cabin crew.

Air India begins massive hiring, pilots' salary crosses Rs 2 crore

Air India Ltd. placed the largest aircraft order in aviation history, opting to purchase 540 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus on Monday (February 13), allowing the Tata Group airline to expand its operations both domestically and internationally, reported the Mint. Air India is estimated to spend a whopping $82 billion on the acquisition of short&nbsp;and long-haul aircraft, while the real cost would be less as bulk purchases are eligible for discounts and incentives.

Out of the total 540 aircraft, 470 are firm orders, while the remaining 70 are options with Boeing that Air India may subsequently exercise. 250 Airbus and 220 Boeing aircraft make up the 470 aircraft, with the first lot arriving later this year. The previous single-largest jet purchase, according to Bloomberg, was made by American Airlines in 2011 for 460 planes.

“The first aircraft to arrive will be 25 brand-new Boeing B737-800s and six Airbus A350-900s in the second half of 2023, with deliveries really ramping up in 2025 and beyond. In the meantime, our capacity growth will continue to be supported by the previously announced lease-in of additional narrow-body and wide-body aircraft and the restoration-to-service of the remainder of our grounded fleet," Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in an email to employees, reported Mint.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/western-leaders-hail-billion-dollar-air-india-airbus-and-boeing-annoucement-562059">Western leaders hail billion-dollar Air India, Airbus, Boeing announcement</a>

Around 450 single-aisle aircraft from the Airbus 320 family and Boeing 737 MAX are included in the total order; these aircraft will be used for local and short-haul international operations. The remaining 90 aircraft, all dual-aisle planes, will travel to Europe and the Americas.

<h2>Why is the Air India order for 470 new aircraft such a huge&nbsp;deal?&nbsp;</h2>

The historic Air India purchase of 470 jets, valued between $80-100 billion, has caused the world to sit up and take notice because of its scale and the ramifications it has for Air India, the aviation industry, and some of the biggest global economies.&nbsp;

This is the biggest bulk order for aircraft; American Airlines' purchase of 460 aircraft in 2011 is now&nbsp;the second-highest. The deal, which took more than a year to work out, marks India's debut as one of the major aircraft-buying countries.&nbsp;

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Indian PM Narendra Modi addressing a virtual meeting&nbsp;on agreement between Air India and Airbus. Photo credits: Twitter

Air India has ordered 40 wide-bodied A350 planes and 210 narrow-bodied A320 neo-family planes from Airbus, reported Hindu BusinessLine.&nbsp;The Boeing order entails&nbsp;10 wide-bodied B777X planes, 20 wide-body B787 planes, and 190 narrow-body B737MAX planes.&nbsp;Indigo is reportedly considering similar plans to buy 500 aircraft, said the Hindu BusinessLine.&nbsp;

<h2>How is this order beneficial for Air India?</h2>

After the Tatas' takeover in early 2022, the former national airline of India, which had been making significant losses, has been working to improve its performance. By merging with Vistara recently, it became the nation's largest airline operating on foreign routes and the second-largest domestic airline after&nbsp;Indigo. Prior to the most recent order, the Tata group operated 218 aircraft, flying to 52 domestic and 38 overseas destinations.

With this deal, Air India's fleet size will more than double, and it will surpass Indigo's fleet of 300 aircraft to become the largest airline operating domestic routes as well. The kind of aircraft that&nbsp;Air India has ordered indicates that it aims to significantly expand its footprint on international routes as well as fly to both major and minor locations within the domestic market.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/google-layoffs-late-night-email-terminates-453-employees-in-india-562943">Google layoffs: Late-night email terminates 453 employees in India</a>

How Air India finances this transaction will be interesting to observe. When the Tata family assumed control of the airline, they had paid off around 15 per cent&nbsp;of the struggling airline's 61,562 crore debt. The Tatas, however, claim to have already refinanced the debt they inherited, as per a Hindu BusinessLine&nbsp;report.&nbsp;

<h2>What does the deal really mean for India's aviation sector?</h2>

The Maharajah will re-ascend the throne to rule supremely over India's skies, and the aviation industry in India will undergo a shakeout. The agreement aims to turn India into a major international air travel hub by significantly increasing the number of international&nbsp;air carriers operating from India. This will require a revamp&nbsp;of Indian airports too.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Chetan Sharma Resigns: Indian cricket Chief selector resigns

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The chairman of the Tata group suggests that some aircraft parts may be manufactured in India which will stimulate local manufacturing and provide new job opportunities.

<h2>Is this deal in tandem with the present passenger traffic?</h2>

Aviation traffic has undoubtedly increased during the previous 12 months. Between April and December 2022, domestic aviation traffic increased by 63 per cent&nbsp;year over year, according to ICRA, with 986 lakh passengers. Since the pandemic&nbsp;lows, the passenger load factor has also increased and now stands at 91 per cent.

India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) predicts that India will move up one spot in the next 10 years, moving from seventh to third in terms of civil aviation. By 2024, India is expected to surpass the UK to acquire the third-largest position in the domestic aviation industry. The population and rising buying power of India would undoubtedly lead to an increase in domestic aviation travel.&nbsp;

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Air India Ltd. placed the largest aircraft order in aviation history, opting to purchase 540 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus on Monday (February 13), allowing the Tata Group airline to expand its operations both domestically and internationally, reported the Mint.

Air India Ltd. placed the largest aircraft order in aviation history, opting to purchase 540 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus on Monday (February 13), allowing the Tata Group airline to expand its operations both domestically and internationally, reported the Mint. Air India is estimated to spend a whopping $82 billion on the acquisition of short and long-haul aircraft, while the real cost would be less as bulk purchases are eligible for discounts and incentives. Out of the total 540 aircraft, 470 are firm orders, while the remaining 70 are options with Boeing that Air India may subsequently exercise. 250 Airbus and 220 Boeing aircraft make up the 470 aircraft, with the first lot arriving later this year. The previous single-largest jet purchase, according to Bloomberg, was made by American Airlines in 2011 for 460 planes. “The first aircraft to arrive will be 25 brand-new Boeing B737-800s and six Airbus A350-900s in the second half of 2023, with deliveries really ramping up in 2025 and beyond. In the meantime, our capacity growth will continue to be supported by the previously announced lease-in of additional narrow-body and wide-body aircraft and the restoration-to-service of the remainder of our grounded fleet," Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in an email to employees, reported Mint. ALSO READ | Western leaders hail billion-dollar Air India, Airbus, Boeing announcement Around 450 single-aisle aircraft from the Airbus 320 family and Boeing 737 MAX are included in the total order; these aircraft will be used for local and short-haul international operations. The remaining 90 aircraft, all dual-aisle planes, will travel to Europe and the Americas. Why is the Air India order for 470 new aircraft such a huge deal? The historic Air India purchase of 470 jets, valued between $80-100 billion, has caused the world to sit up and take notice because of its scale and the ramifications it has for Air India, the aviation industry, and some of the biggest global economies. This is the biggest bulk order for aircraft; American Airlines' purchase of 460 aircraft in 2011 is now the second-highest. The deal, which took more than a year to work out, marks India's debut as one of the major aircraft-buying countries. Indian PM Narendra Modi addressing a virtual meeting on agreement between Air India and Airbus. Photo credits: Twitter Air India has ordered 40 wide-bodied A350 planes and 210 narrow-bodied A320 neo-family planes from Airbus, reported Hindu BusinessLine. The Boeing order entails 10 wide-bodied B777X planes, 20 wide-body B787 planes, and 190 narrow-body B737MAX planes. Indigo is reportedly considering similar plans to buy 500 aircraft, said the Hindu BusinessLine. How is this order beneficial for Air India? After the Tatas' takeover in early 2022, the former national airline of India, which had been making significant losses, has been working to improve its performance. By merging with Vistara recently, it became the nation's largest airline operating on foreign routes and the second-largest domestic airline after Indigo. Prior to the most recent order, the Tata group operated 218 aircraft, flying to 52 domestic and 38 overseas destinations. With this deal, Air India's fleet size will more than double, and it will surpass Indigo's fleet of 300 aircraft to become the largest airline operating domestic routes as well. The kind of aircraft that Air India has ordered indicates that it aims to significantly expand its footprint on international routes as well as fly to both major and minor locations within the domestic market. ALSO READ | Google layoffs: Late-night email terminates 453 employees in India How Air India finances this transaction will be interesting to observe. When the Tata family assumed control of the airline, they had paid off around 15 per cent of the struggling airline's 61,562 crore debt. The Tatas, however, claim to have already refinanced the debt they inherited, as per a Hindu BusinessLine report. What does the deal really mean for India's aviation sector? The Maharajah will re-ascend the throne to rule supremely over India's skies, and the aviation industry in India will undergo a shakeout. The agreement aims to turn India into a major international air travel hub by significantly increasing the number of international air carriers operating from India. This will require a revamp of Indian airports too. ALSO WATCH | Chetan Sharma Resigns: Indian cricket Chief selector resigns The chairman of the Tata group suggests that some aircraft parts may be manufactured in India which will stimulate local manufacturing and provide new job opportunities. Is this deal in tandem with the present passenger traffic? Aviation traffic has undoubtedly increased during the previous 12 months. Between April and December 2022, domestic aviation traffic increased by 63 per cent year over year, according to ICRA, with 986 lakh passengers. Since the pandemic lows, the passenger load factor has also increased and now stands at 91 per cent. India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) predicts that India will move up one spot in the next 10 years, moving from seventh to third in terms of civil aviation. By 2024, India is expected to surpass the UK to acquire the third-largest position in the domestic aviation industry. The population and rising buying power of India would undoubtedly lead to an increase in domestic aviation travel. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXPLAINED: What does Air India's historic aircraft deal mean for India?

Air India will buy 470 new planes from global aviation giants Airbus and Boeing, as per an official statement. The deal is one of the biggest in aviation history and Air India's biggest till date. Priyanka Sharma explains.

Gravitas: Air India inks one of the biggest deals in aviation history

Several western leaders like US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have hailed Air India’s decision to buy planes from Airbus, and Boeing.

The Indian airline has signed letters of intent with Airbus and Boeing to acquire a mix of widebody and single-aisle aircraft. The deal was announced during a virtual meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressing their support.

In his address, PM Modi highlighted the rapid expansion of the civil aviation market in India, which will encourage greater connectivity between India and the rest of the world, in turn boosting tourism and business in the country.

"The agreement between Air India and Airbus is also an important milestone for the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. The India-France partnership is playing a direct role in ensuring the stability and balance in the international order and the multilateral system," he said.

The order includes 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777-9s widebody aircraft, along with 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. The A350 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines, while the B777/787s will use engines from GE Aerospace.

<h2>India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing</h2>

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Later in the day, PM Modi and US President Biden held a telephonic conversation in which they welcomed the announcement of the agreement between Air India and Boeing. They called it a "shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries," as per the Indian readout.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the deepening of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. PM Modi is expected to travel to the US in June.

A statement from the White House noted that "this purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership."

UK PM Sunak and Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch also welcomed the deal.

"This landmark deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce demonstrates that the sky's the limit for the UK's thriving aerospace sector. By building trade ties with growing economic powers like India, we will ensure UK businesses remain at the forefront of global growth and innovation," Sunak stated.

The announcement will create new highly skilled jobs in Wales and Derbyshire, he added.

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Several western leaders like US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have hailed Air India’s decision to buy planes from Airbus, and Boeing.

Several western leaders like US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have hailed Air India’s decision to buy planes from Airbus, and Boeing. The Indian airline has signed letters of intent with Airbus and Boeing to acquire a mix of widebody and single-aisle aircraft. The deal was announced during a virtual meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressing their support. In his address, PM Modi highlighted the rapid expansion of the civil aviation market in India, which will encourage greater connectivity between India and the rest of the world, in turn boosting tourism and business in the country. "The agreement between Air India and Airbus is also an important milestone for the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. The India-France partnership is playing a direct role in ensuring the stability and balance in the international order and the multilateral system," he said. The order includes 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777-9s widebody aircraft, along with 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. The A350 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines, while the B777/787s will use engines from GE Aerospace. India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing Later in the day, PM Modi and US President Biden held a telephonic conversation in which they welcomed the announcement of the agreement between Air India and Boeing. They called it a "shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries," as per the Indian readout. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the deepening of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. PM Modi is expected to travel to the US in June. A statement from the White House noted that "this purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership." UK PM Sunak and Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch also welcomed the deal. "This landmark deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce demonstrates that the sky's the limit for the UK's thriving aerospace sector. By building trade ties with growing economic powers like India, we will ensure UK businesses remain at the forefront of global growth and innovation," Sunak stated. The announcement will create new highly skilled jobs in Wales and Derbyshire, he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Western leaders hail billion-dollar Air India, Airbus, Boeing announcement

US President Joe Biden had a telephonic conversation with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a jumbo deal between Air India and Boeing. During the interaction, PM Modi expressed satisfaction at the deepening of India-US global strategic partnership.

Air India to buy over 200 Boeing planes, deal is biggest in aviation history

Tata-group owned Air India on Tuesday announced that it will purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus. The deal which is worth more than $50 million is reportedly Air India's first aircraft purchase in around 17 years and is also the first order under the ownership of Tata Group. The deal, as per N Chandrasekaran, the company's chairman, is aimed at transforming the former national carrier, as well as expanding its operations. PTI reports that the acquisition of 250 aircraft will include 40 wide-body A350 planes and 210 narrow-body aircraft. The wide-body planes, as per Chandrasekaran, will be used for long-haul flights.&nbsp;

"Today I'm happy to say that we have signed a letter of intent to acquire 250 aircraft," said Chandrasekaran at a joint press conference he held with Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury.

Watch |&nbsp;India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing

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Also present at the virtual announcement of the deal were Indian PM Narendra Modi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who hailed it as a "landmark" and an "achievement".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the deal and said that the nation's growing aviation sector in the next 15 years would require over 2,000 aircraft. He remarked that in the near future, India will emerge as the third-biggest market in the world in the aviation sector.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-likely-to-finalise-half-of-jumbo-plane-order-claims-industry-sources-556595">Air India likely to finalise half of jumbo order, buy 220 planes, claim industry sources</a>

"Our civil aviation sector is an integral part of India's development. Strengthening the civil aviation sector is an important aspect of our national infrastructure policy," said Modi.

Hailing the Air India-Airbus deal as a "landmark," the PM said that it reflects deepening ties between France and India. He also said that the partnership between the two nations is playing a key role in ensuring stability and balance of the international order and the multilateral system.

"Whether it is the issue of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, or global food security and health security, India and France together are making a positive contribution".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tata-owned-air-india-to-place-historic-order-of-at-least-500-jets-heres-all-you-need-to-know-542211">Tata-owned Air India to place historic order of at least 500 jets: Here’s all you need to know</a>

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron said that the Air India-Airbus deal "shows that Airbus and all its French partners are fully dedicated to develop new areas of cooperation with India".

He further added, "The end of the pandemic should lead to more exchanges between our two countries. Students, scientists, artists, businessmen, women, tourists all are most welcome to France and I encourage Indians to come and be part of this French Indian friendship."

Air India's last aircraft purchase was made in 2005 for 111 planes; 68 of which were from Boeing and 43 from Airbus.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tata-group owned Air India on Tuesday announced that it will purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus. The deal which is worth more than $50 million is reportedly Air India's first aircraft purchase in around 17 years and is also the first order under the ownership of Tata Group.

Tata-group owned Air India on Tuesday announced that it will purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus. The deal which is worth more than $50 million is reportedly Air India's first aircraft purchase in around 17 years and is also the first order under the ownership of Tata Group. The deal, as per N Chandrasekaran, the company's chairman, is aimed at transforming the former national carrier, as well as expanding its operations. PTI reports that the acquisition of 250 aircraft will include 40 wide-body A350 planes and 210 narrow-body aircraft. The wide-body planes, as per Chandrasekaran, will be used for long-haul flights. "Today I'm happy to say that we have signed a letter of intent to acquire 250 aircraft," said Chandrasekaran at a joint press conference he held with Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury. Watch | India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing Also present at the virtual announcement of the deal were Indian PM Narendra Modi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who hailed it as a "landmark" and an "achievement". Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the deal and said that the nation's growing aviation sector in the next 15 years would require over 2,000 aircraft. He remarked that in the near future, India will emerge as the third-biggest market in the world in the aviation sector. Also read | Air India likely to finalise half of jumbo order, buy 220 planes, claim industry sources "Our civil aviation sector is an integral part of India's development. Strengthening the civil aviation sector is an important aspect of our national infrastructure policy," said Modi. Hailing the Air India-Airbus deal as a "landmark," the PM said that it reflects deepening ties between France and India. He also said that the partnership between the two nations is playing a key role in ensuring stability and balance of the international order and the multilateral system. "Whether it is the issue of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, or global food security and health security, India and France together are making a positive contribution". Also read | Tata-owned Air India to place historic order of at least 500 jets: Here’s all you need to know French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron said that the Air India-Airbus deal "shows that Airbus and all its French partners are fully dedicated to develop new areas of cooperation with India". He further added, "The end of the pandemic should lead to more exchanges between our two countries. Students, scientists, artists, businessmen, women, tourists all are most welcome to France and I encourage Indians to come and be part of this French Indian friendship." Air India's last aircraft purchase was made in 2005 for 111 planes; 68 of which were from Boeing and 43 from Airbus. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Air India signs 'historic' deal to purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus; its first purchase order in 17 years

India has reportedly sealed a jumbo deal for about 500 new planes worth more than 100 billion dollars. This could become the single largest order by any airline in the world in modern aviation.

India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing

On Friday, Tata-owned Air India is likely to seal half of an order of around 495 jets with engine and Boeing suppliers General Electric and CFM International, said industry sources, as the owners aim to revive the airlines and strongly compete with the rivals.&nbsp;After months of negotiations, Air India will be placing an order of 20 Boeing 787s, 10 Boeing 777Xs and 190 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes on the day which will mark the completion of a year since the Tata Group took back the former state-run carrier's control, stated the sources while speaking to Reuters.

The order's second half, which as per industry sources includes 40 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft and 235 Airbus single-aisle jets, is set to be wrapped up formally in the coming days.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-modifies-in-flight-alcohol-service-policy-amid-incidents-of-unruly-passenger-behaviour-555713">Air India modifies in-flight alcohol service policy amid incidents of 'unruly' passenger behaviour</a>

Senior Boeing officials, which includes Boeing Commercial Airplanes' chief executive Stanley Deal, along with CFM and GE executives, are expected to finalise the deal in India on Friday.&nbsp;

Although there were expectations of a single co-ordinated announcement earlier, it is unclear when the company will publicly disclose the deals, especially because of Aero India air show is set to be held in February when the deals of the companies are usually revealed.

Air India sent a note to its employees on Friday, celebrating one year of Tata's ownership, in which it said that "finalising a historic order of new aircraft to power future growth".

Once the deal is finalised, Air India will be placed in the league of large global airlines and it will become an influential customer for suppliers and plane makers at a time when there has been a surge in travel post-Covid in the home market. &nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;WION Dispatch: Air India fined over urination case

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According to government data, air traffic of domestic passengers grew by 47% &nbsp;in India in 2022.&nbsp;

According to analysts, the airline is facing intense competition because of the connectivity carved out by international and domestic rivals.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On Friday, Tata-owned Air India is likely to seal half of an order of around 495 jets with engine and Boeing suppliers General Electric and CFM International, said industry sources, as the owners aim to revive the airlines and strongly compete with the rivals.

On Friday, Tata-owned Air India is likely to seal half of an order of around 495 jets with engine and Boeing suppliers General Electric and CFM International, said industry sources, as the owners aim to revive the airlines and strongly compete with the rivals. After months of negotiations, Air India will be placing an order of 20 Boeing 787s, 10 Boeing 777Xs and 190 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes on the day which will mark the completion of a year since the Tata Group took back the former state-run carrier's control, stated the sources while speaking to Reuters. The order's second half, which as per industry sources includes 40 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft and 235 Airbus single-aisle jets, is set to be wrapped up formally in the coming days. ALSO READ | Air India modifies in-flight alcohol service policy amid incidents of 'unruly' passenger behaviour Senior Boeing officials, which includes Boeing Commercial Airplanes' chief executive Stanley Deal, along with CFM and GE executives, are expected to finalise the deal in India on Friday. Although there were expectations of a single co-ordinated announcement earlier, it is unclear when the company will publicly disclose the deals, especially because of Aero India air show is set to be held in February when the deals of the companies are usually revealed. Air India sent a note to its employees on Friday, celebrating one year of Tata's ownership, in which it said that "finalising a historic order of new aircraft to power future growth". Once the deal is finalised, Air India will be placed in the league of large global airlines and it will become an influential customer for suppliers and plane makers at a time when there has been a surge in travel post-Covid in the home market. WATCH | WION Dispatch: Air India fined over urination case According to government data, air traffic of domestic passengers grew by 47% in India in 2022. According to analysts, the airline is facing intense competition because of the connectivity carved out by international and domestic rivals. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Air India likely to finalise half of jumbo order, buy 220 planes, claim industry sources

Air India has modified its in-flight alcohol service policy wherein cabin crew have been told to tactfully refuse further serving of alcohol if needed.

Air India amends existing in-flight liquor policy after Pee-gate scandal

The India's directorate general of civil aviation has imposed a fine of about 37,000 on Air India. The fine is for the airlines' failure to comply with applicable rules in the 26th of November urination case.

WION Dispatch: Air India fined over urination case

Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak. The event has drawn attention to the issue of misbehavior by disruptive passengers on airplanes. As per the latest developments, Mishra was arrested&nbsp;in Bengaluru days after evading the police.&nbsp;The event first came to light earlier this week, and since then, there have been allegations that the airline failed to act swiftly and appropriately to penalize the accused.

<h2>Who is Shankar Mishra?</h2>

Shankar Mishra, 34, worked at Wells Fargo, a major provider of financial services in the US having its headquarters in California. He was the vice president of the worldwide organisation's India Chapter. He routinely travelled between Mumbai and Bengaluru, where he had offices.

As the scandal made news on Friday, Mishra was fired from the company. In a statement announcing his dismissal, Wells Fargo said that 'it holds its employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour, and “we find these allegations deeply disturbing”.

He is a resident of Mumbai and is known as ‘Suraj’ in Kamgar Nagar, where he has been staying for the past 20 years as reported by the Indian Express who spoke&nbsp;to his neighbours.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/response-should-have-been-much-swifter-says-tata-sons-chairman-44-days-after-air-india-pee-gate-550468">Response should have been much swifter, says Tata Sons chairman after Air India ‘pee-gate’</a>

He is an alumnus of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a private university in Mumbai, and is referred to as "Suraj M" on LinkedIn, according to Newsroompost.

<h2>Shankar Mishra's arrest: Case so far</h2>

Mishra is said to have urinated on his woman&nbsp;co-passenger, an elderly citizen in her 70s in the business class of an Air India aircraft on November 26, 2021. He was allegedly intoxicated when the incident took place.&nbsp;

The lawsuit claims that Mishra stood beside the woman's seat even while his body parts were exposed.&nbsp;

He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Delhi court.

<h2>What did Air India do immediately after the incident took place?</h2>

The Air India crew allegedly took Mishra to the woman after the episode&nbsp;and told her he wanted to&nbsp;apologise&nbsp;to her, according to NDTV report.

The passenger expressed her disappointment with the cabin staff in a letter to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekharan, claiming that they were insensitive to the circumstances. According to NDTV, the woman said in her letter that she was compelled to face him while he begged for mercy.&nbsp;

As per the latest reports by PTI,&nbsp; a co-passenger on the New York-New Delhi aircraft has claimed&nbsp;that after the Mumbai man urinated on the female co-passenger, the captain made the elderly woman wait for over two hours before assigning her a new seat.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/air-india-passenger-accused-of-urinating-on-woman-co-flyer-sent-to-judicial-custody-for-14-days-550288">Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days</a>

In a handwritten complaint to the airline, Sugata Bhattacharjee, a US-based audiologist who was travelling to Delhi in business class and was seated next to the accused, said that the woman passenger was forced to return to her soiled seat despite there being four vacant first-class seats.

<h2>What is the action being taken by DGCA?</h2>

In relation to the incident, the airline was asked to submit a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday.&nbsp;“We are seeking a report from the airline and shall take action against those found negligent,” DGCA chief Arun Kumar told&nbsp;Indian Express.

Air India has imposed a 30-day travel ban on Mishra stating that&nbsp;that the “passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner.”&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShankarMishra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShankarMishra</a>, an Indian man accused of urinating on a female co-flyer during an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirIndia</a> flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21<a href="https://twitter.com/alysonle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alysonle</a> tells you more 
 
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A police complaint was filed against the accused&nbsp;and the airline said that it would fully cooperate&nbsp;to “ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger.”

<h2>Sanjay Mishra arrested in Bengaluru</h2>

The accused was arrested on Saturday (6 January) in Bengaluru after evading the police for many days. He was allegedly arrested while residing at a homestay in Bengaluru's Sanjay Nagar.

After Mishra retreated and declined to cooperate with the inquiry, the Delhi Police filed a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;case was registered against Mishra&nbsp;under sections 294 (obscene act in a public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as under Aircraft Rules, reported&nbsp;India Today.

<h2>What is Shankar Mishra's family saying?</h2>

Speaking to India Today TV, Shyam Mishra, Shankar's father said, "This is a totally false case. My son was traveling from the US. He had not slept for 72 hours. He might have taken a drink on the flight and slept. What happened after that even he doesn't know. It's very difficult to prove."

Additionally, the father denied that his son had peed on the woman. "I don't think he would have done this. The woman is 72 years old, she is like a mother to him," he said, adding that there are no eyewitnesses to the incident.

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Air India pax urinating case of Nov | False case. My son hadn't slept for 30-35 hrs. After dinner, he might've consumed the drink given by crew &amp; then slept. From what I understand,he was questioned by airline staff after he woke up: Shyam Mishra, father of accused S Mishra (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/j90Ze5wNb1">pic.twitter.com/j90Ze5wNb1</a>
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<h2>Was the co-passenger compensated by Shankar Mishra?</h2>

On Friday, Mishra's lawyers said that their client had compensated the woman with Rs 15,000 and cleaned her belongings.

A statement made by his lawyers, Ishanee Sharma and Akshat Bajpai, stated that the 34-year-old had the woman's clothing and baggage cleaned on November 28 and handed to her on November 30, reported PTI.

The statement read, “The woman in her message has clearly condoned the alleged act and has displayed no intention to lodge a complaint. The lady’s persisting grievance was only with respect to the adequate compensation being paid by the Airline for which she has raised a subsequent complaint on 20 December 2022.”

<h2>Statement from the woman and her relatives&nbsp;</h2>

The woman's relatives allegedly refuted the story and claimed to have given the money back.

According to a PTI report, Mishra allegedly messaged her following the unpleasant event. The chats demonstrate that the lady gave Mishra her phone number and confirmed receiving Rs 5,000. Her daughter and son-in-law, however, were quite angry over the situation. The lady informed Mishra that she had talked them out of complaining because he was so contrite and uninformed of what had happened.

In a string of messages, the woman said that she hoped Mishra will mend his ways. The latter responded by thanking her and promising he will never repeat such an act.

A day later, Mishra informed her about the clothes and shoes that will be “refurbished” in a day or two. He also mentioned having sent her another Rs 10,000 as compensation.

Also watch |&nbsp;Avani Chaturvedi to be first IAF woman fighter pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad

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On the other hand, reports said that on December 19, the woman's daughter allegedly wrote a message claiming that her mother had been traumatised by the incident and that the family was extremely "upset, indignant, and enraged."

The money will be refunded by Paytm&nbsp;and the statement noted that the family did not want it. The woman's daughter further instructed Mishra not to speak to her mother again. Also sent was a screen capture of the money-returning transaction.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak.

Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak. The event has drawn attention to the issue of misbehavior by disruptive passengers on airplanes. As per the latest developments, Mishra was arrested in Bengaluru days after evading the police. The event first came to light earlier this week, and since then, there have been allegations that the airline failed to act swiftly and appropriately to penalize the accused. Who is Shankar Mishra? Shankar Mishra, 34, worked at Wells Fargo, a major provider of financial services in the US having its headquarters in California. He was the vice president of the worldwide organisation's India Chapter. He routinely travelled between Mumbai and Bengaluru, where he had offices. As the scandal made news on Friday, Mishra was fired from the company. In a statement announcing his dismissal, Wells Fargo said that 'it holds its employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour, and “we find these allegations deeply disturbing”. He is a resident of Mumbai and is known as ‘Suraj’ in Kamgar Nagar, where he has been staying for the past 20 years as reported by the Indian Express who spoke to his neighbours. Also read | Response should have been much swifter, says Tata Sons chairman after Air India ‘pee-gate’ He is an alumnus of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a private university in Mumbai, and is referred to as "Suraj M" on LinkedIn, according to Newsroompost. Shankar Mishra's arrest: Case so far Mishra is said to have urinated on his woman co-passenger, an elderly citizen in her 70s in the business class of an Air India aircraft on November 26, 2021. He was allegedly intoxicated when the incident took place. The lawsuit claims that Mishra stood beside the woman's seat even while his body parts were exposed. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Delhi court. What did Air India do immediately after the incident took place? The Air India crew allegedly took Mishra to the woman after the episode and told her he wanted to apologise to her, according to NDTV report. The passenger expressed her disappointment with the cabin staff in a letter to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekharan, claiming that they were insensitive to the circumstances. According to NDTV, the woman said in her letter that she was compelled to face him while he begged for mercy. As per the latest reports by PTI, a co-passenger on the New York-New Delhi aircraft has claimed that after the Mumbai man urinated on the female co-passenger, the captain made the elderly woman wait for over two hours before assigning her a new seat. Also read | Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days In a handwritten complaint to the airline, Sugata Bhattacharjee, a US-based audiologist who was travelling to Delhi in business class and was seated next to the accused, said that the woman passenger was forced to return to her soiled seat despite there being four vacant first-class seats. What is the action being taken by DGCA? In relation to the incident, the airline was asked to submit a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday. “We are seeking a report from the airline and shall take action against those found negligent,” DGCA chief Arun Kumar told Indian Express. Air India has imposed a 30-day travel ban on Mishra stating that that the “passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner.” #ShankarMishra, an Indian man accused of urinating on a female co-flyer during an #AirIndia flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21@alysonle tells you more For more videos, visit: https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J pic.twitter.com/fVltUiZbOH — WION (@WIONews) January 7, 2023 × A police complaint was filed against the accused and the airline said that it would fully cooperate to “ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger.” Sanjay Mishra arrested in Bengaluru The accused was arrested on Saturday (6 January) in Bengaluru after evading the police for many days. He was allegedly arrested while residing at a homestay in Bengaluru's Sanjay Nagar. After Mishra retreated and declined to cooperate with the inquiry, the Delhi Police filed a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him. A case was registered against Mishra under sections 294 (obscene act in a public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as under Aircraft Rules, reported India Today. What is Shankar Mishra's family saying? Speaking to India Today TV, Shyam Mishra, Shankar's father said, "This is a totally false case. My son was traveling from the US. He had not slept for 72 hours. He might have taken a drink on the flight and slept. What happened after that even he doesn't know. It's very difficult to prove." Additionally, the father denied that his son had peed on the woman. "I don't think he would have done this. The woman is 72 years old, she is like a mother to him," he said, adding that there are no eyewitnesses to the incident. Air India pax urinating case of Nov | False case. My son hadn't slept for 30-35 hrs. After dinner, he might've consumed the drink given by crew & then slept. From what I understand,he was questioned by airline staff after he woke up: Shyam Mishra, father of accused S Mishra (1/2) pic.twitter.com/j90Ze5wNb1 — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2023 × Was the co-passenger compensated by Shankar Mishra? On Friday, Mishra's lawyers said that their client had compensated the woman with Rs 15,000 and cleaned her belongings. A statement made by his lawyers, Ishanee Sharma and Akshat Bajpai, stated that the 34-year-old had the woman's clothing and baggage cleaned on November 28 and handed to her on November 30, reported PTI. The statement read, “The woman in her message has clearly condoned the alleged act and has displayed no intention to lodge a complaint. The lady’s persisting grievance was only with respect to the adequate compensation being paid by the Airline for which she has raised a subsequent complaint on 20 December 2022.” Statement from the woman and her relatives The woman's relatives allegedly refuted the story and claimed to have given the money back. According to a PTI report, Mishra allegedly messaged her following the unpleasant event. The chats demonstrate that the lady gave Mishra her phone number and confirmed receiving Rs 5,000. Her daughter and son-in-law, however, were quite angry over the situation. The lady informed Mishra that she had talked them out of complaining because he was so contrite and uninformed of what had happened. In a string of messages, the woman said that she hoped Mishra will mend his ways. The latter responded by thanking her and promising he will never repeat such an act. A day later, Mishra informed her about the clothes and shoes that will be “refurbished” in a day or two. He also mentioned having sent her another Rs 10,000 as compensation. Also watch | Avani Chaturvedi to be first IAF woman fighter pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad On the other hand, reports said that on December 19, the woman's daughter allegedly wrote a message claiming that her mother had been traumatised by the incident and that the family was extremely "upset, indignant, and enraged." The money will be refunded by Paytm and the statement noted that the family did not want it. The woman's daughter further instructed Mishra not to speak to her mother again. Also sent was a screen capture of the money-returning transaction. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Air India 'pee-gate': Who is Shankar Mishra, the man accused of urinating on an elderly co-passenger

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran issued a media statement over the 'peeing' incident that took place in a Air India flight between New York and New Delhi, when a passenger Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger on November 26, 2022.&nbsp;

In the statement, Chandrasekaran accepted that Air India should have responded to the situation more swiftly.&nbsp;

"The incident on Air India flight Al102 on November 26th, 2022, has been a matter of personal anguish to me and my colleagues at Air India," he said.

“Air India’s response should have been much swifter. We fell short of addressing this situation the way it should have been," he added.&nbsp;

The statement was released by Tata Sons chairman 44 days after the incident took place but came to light recently following which there was public outrage over the negligence as the authorities assured to take action.&nbsp;

Chandrasekaran stated that the Tata group and Air India are committed to ensure passengers' well-being and safety.

“The Tata group and Air India stand by the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew with full conviction. We will review and repair every process to prevent or address any incidents of such unruly nature," the statement added. &nbsp;

ALSO READ| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pathetic-drunk-man-urinates-on-woman-in-new-york-delhi-air-india-flight-woman-reports-to-tata-group-chairman-549261">Pathetic! Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month</a>

Accused sent to judicial custody

Meanwhile, the accused Shankar Mishra has been sent to judicial remand for a period of 14 days by the Delhi court after the police's plea for his custody was rejected. &nbsp;&nbsp;

After the judgement, a bail plea was moved by the lawyer of accused Mishra which will be heard by the court on January 11. &nbsp;

Mishra who faced termination from his job at Wells Fargo, an American financial services company, was arrested in Bengaluru on Friday.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Air India Urination Case: Man arrested for peeing on woman on plane, sent to jail

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Air India crew de-rostered

So far, the statements of Air India's three crew members were recorded by Delhi Police&nbsp;in connection with the “pee-gate”.&nbsp;

A show cause notice has already been issued by the Air Indian over the 'urinating' incident and one pilot along with four cabin crew have been de-rostered as the incident continues to be investigated, said CEO Campbell Wilson.

"Air India is deeply concerned about the in-flight instances where customers have suffered due to the condemnable acts of their co-passengers on our aircraft. We regret and are pained about these experiences," Wilson said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran issued a media statement over the 'peeing' incident that took place in a Air India flight between New York and New Delhi, when a passenger Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger on November 26, 2022.

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran issued a media statement over the 'peeing' incident that took place in a Air India flight between New York and New Delhi, when a passenger Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger on November 26, 2022. In the statement, Chandrasekaran accepted that Air India should have responded to the situation more swiftly. "The incident on Air India flight Al102 on November 26th, 2022, has been a matter of personal anguish to me and my colleagues at Air India," he said. “Air India’s response should have been much swifter. We fell short of addressing this situation the way it should have been," he added. The statement was released by Tata Sons chairman 44 days after the incident took place but came to light recently following which there was public outrage over the negligence as the authorities assured to take action. Chandrasekaran stated that the Tata group and Air India are committed to ensure passengers' well-being and safety. “The Tata group and Air India stand by the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew with full conviction. We will review and repair every process to prevent or address any incidents of such unruly nature," the statement added. ALSO READ| Pathetic! Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month Accused sent to judicial custody Meanwhile, the accused Shankar Mishra has been sent to judicial remand for a period of 14 days by the Delhi court after the police's plea for his custody was rejected. After the judgement, a bail plea was moved by the lawyer of accused Mishra which will be heard by the court on January 11. Mishra who faced termination from his job at Wells Fargo, an American financial services company, was arrested in Bengaluru on Friday. WATCH | Air India Urination Case: Man arrested for peeing on woman on plane, sent to jail Air India crew de-rostered So far, the statements of Air India's three crew members were recorded by Delhi Police in connection with the “pee-gate”. A show cause notice has already been issued by the Air Indian over the 'urinating' incident and one pilot along with four cabin crew have been de-rostered as the incident continues to be investigated, said CEO Campbell Wilson. "Air India is deeply concerned about the in-flight instances where customers have suffered due to the condemnable acts of their co-passengers on our aircraft. We regret and are pained about these experiences," Wilson said. (With inputs from agencies)

Response should have been much swifter, says Tata Sons chairman after Air India ‘pee-gate’

Shankar Mishra, an Indian man accused of urinating on an elderly&nbsp;female co-flyer on&nbsp;an Air India flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21. The court will hear his bail plea on January 11. Earlier, the Delhi Police arrested him from a home stay in Bengaluru.&nbsp;

Air India has also initiated a probe from their side along with imposing a ban on Mishra for 30 days.&nbsp;

Allegations state that Mishra urinated on his female co-passenger on an Air India flight from New York to New Delhi. Furthermore, they were in business class, and Mishra was under the influence of alcohol.

Also Read|&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/india-news/dgca-issues-advisory-to-airlines-for-handling-disruptive-passengers-on-board-what-does-it-entail-550104">India: DGCA issues advisory to airlines for handling unruly passengers on board, what does it entail</a>

The CEO of Air India, a Tata-owned airline, Campbell Wilson, apologised for the incident. He mentioned that the company is reviewing their policies on serving alcohol. Moreover, Air India has also de-rostered four cabin crew and a pilot.&nbsp;

Mishra served as the vice president of the India unit of US financial services company Wells Fargo. However, the company sacked Mishra after the incident came to light.

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Furthermore, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) called Air India's way of handling the incident 'unprofessional.' They issued a show cause notice to the carrier and noted that it was 'dereliction' of duty while addressing the incident.&nbsp;

CEO Wilson, in his statement, agrees that they could have handled the situation better. Apart from the service of alcohol, Air India is also reviewing their complaint registration and incident and grievance management&nbsp;policies.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shankar Mishra, an Indian man accused of urinating on an elderly female co-flyer on an Air India flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21.

Shankar Mishra, an Indian man accused of urinating on an elderly female co-flyer on an Air India flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21. The court will hear his bail plea on January 11. Earlier, the Delhi Police arrested him from a home stay in Bengaluru. Air India has also initiated a probe from their side along with imposing a ban on Mishra for 30 days. Allegations state that Mishra urinated on his female co-passenger on an Air India flight from New York to New Delhi. Furthermore, they were in business class, and Mishra was under the influence of alcohol. Also Read| India: DGCA issues advisory to airlines for handling unruly passengers on board, what does it entail The CEO of Air India, a Tata-owned airline, Campbell Wilson, apologised for the incident. He mentioned that the company is reviewing their policies on serving alcohol. Moreover, Air India has also de-rostered four cabin crew and a pilot. Mishra served as the vice president of the India unit of US financial services company Wells Fargo. However, the company sacked Mishra after the incident came to light. Watch | Chinese billionaire Jack Ma to give up control of Ant Group Furthermore, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) called Air India's way of handling the incident 'unprofessional.' They issued a show cause notice to the carrier and noted that it was 'dereliction' of duty while addressing the incident. CEO Wilson, in his statement, agrees that they could have handled the situation better. Apart from the service of alcohol, Air India is also reviewing their complaint registration and incident and grievance management policies. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days

An unruly passenger who is said to have urinated on an elderly woman has been arrested. 34 year old was arrested by daily police from Bengaluru in South India and has been brought back to the national capital.

Air India Urination Case: Man arrested for peeing on woman on plane, sent to jail

The two latest instances of men urinating on female fellow passengers on two separate Air India flights have sparked significant outrage. The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), slammed the Tata Group-owned airline, stating its behaviour was "unprofessional" and resulted in "systemic failure" in reference to the November incident where a drunken male is reported to have urinated on a senior citizen. The First Information Report (FIR) states that despite the incident taking place late last year (November 2022), Air India finally reported it to the police on 4th January 2023 against the offender, a&nbsp;Mumbai-based man Shankar Mishra.&nbsp;

In addition to imposing a 30-day flying ban&nbsp;on the Mishra, Air India has begun an investigation into the event that happened on one of its flights from New York to Delhi on 26th November 2022.&nbsp;

Mishra was fired by his employer,&nbsp;US financial services company Wells Fargo&nbsp;as the VP of India business, on Friday.&nbsp;

“Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behavior and we find these allegations deeply disturbing. This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo. We are cooperating with law enforcement and ask that any additional inquiries be directed to them," Wells Fargo said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/joshimath-sinking-why-is-this-uttarakhand-town-falling-apart-550043">Joshimath sinking: Why is this town in India's Uttarakhand falling apart?</a>

A similar incident occurred on an Air India flight between Paris and Delhi in December of last year when a male passenger who was allegedly intoxicated urinated on a female passenger's blanket.

Airport authorities told news agency PTI that the man was detained by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as the plane touched down but was subsequently released after the two passengers reached a "mutual solution" and the accused provided a "written apology."

<h2>What are&nbsp;Air India's forward plans and DGCA's statutory amid such incidents?</h2>

In a letter to Air India's staff on Friday, the airline CEO Campbell Wilson emphasised that anyone who violates flight regulations will be subject to prompt action. He emphasised the significance of reporting unfavourable situations on flights to authorities, even if the crew thinks the issue has been rectified.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also issued an advisory on Friday, outlining how to deal with unruly passengers on board and who is responsible for what under the rules. All scheduled airlines' operational chiefs received the advisory. The DGCA instructed airlines to deploy restrictions whenever all conciliation efforts had failed.

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DGCA issues an advisory to Head of Operations of all Scheduled Airlines with regard to handling unruly passengers on board and respective responsibilities as per the regulations. <a href="https://t.co/b84yD3ya4u">pic.twitter.com/b84yD3ya4u</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1611335241754628096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The statutory body said, "In the recent past, DGCA has noticed a few incidents of unruly behaviour and inappropriate conduct by the passengers on board the aircraft during flight, wherein it is observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions."

Also watch |&nbsp;India's EAM S. Jaishankar takes on Europe's charges, calls out China

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The DGCA stated that the pilot of an aircraft is in charge of maintaining flight safety, crew member safety, and the safety of passengers and goods carried by aircraft. Notably, many provisions of the 1937 Aircraft Rules, DGCA rules, circulars, and airline manuals specify a person's responsibilities for dealing with unruly passengers.

The cabin crew must diffuse a critical situation, according to the DGCA's additional statement.&nbsp;DGCA recommends 'handcuff-like device' to control unruly passengers on board.&nbsp;A senior DGCA official said they recommend devices kept in aircraft cabin used to restrain unruly passengers of level 3 type i.e. abusive physically violent category. The device looks&nbsp;like a handcuff. Some airlines in India like Air Asia are keeping it in the aircraft cabin.

The statutory body further stated that restraining devices should only be used after all other conciliatory measures have failed. In the meanwhile, it is the Director-in-Flight Services' responsibility to notify the DGCA of such situations in the manner specified by Cabin Safety Circular 02/2010.

Upon landing of the aircraft, airline representative shall lodge FIR with the concerned security agency at aerodrome, to whom, the unruly passenger shall be handed over," the DGCA said.

<h2>What will land a passenger on the no-fly list?</h2>

In accordance with the DGCA, instances of unruly behaviour include intentionally interfering with a crew member's performance of their duties, smoking inside an aircraft, using threatening or abusive language toward a crew member or other passengers, consuming alcohol or drugs that may cause disruption, and more.

Level 1, 2, or 3 behaviours have been designated as disorderly and will determine the length of the suspension.

Physical gestures, verbal abuse, and disorderly inebriation are examples of Level 1 behaviour and&nbsp;up to three-month suspension may result from this.

Level 2 physical abuse, which includes "pushing, kicking, striking, grabbing or unwanted touching or sexual harassment," will result in a six-month suspension.

Level 3 behaviour&nbsp;include those that pose a risk to one's life, such as endangering the aircraft's operational systems and engaging in "physical violence, including choking, eye gouging, deadly attack, attempted or successful breach of the flight crew compartment, etc." In such a case, the prohibition may last for a minimum of two years or longer might be permanent.

According to PTI, the Ministry of Home Affairs can also give the DGCA and the airlines a list of those who have been deemed "national security concerns" so they can be put on the no-fly list.

So far, only one Mumbai jeweller has been added to the no-fly list thus far, according to a report in The New Indian Express from 2020.

On a Jet Airways aircraft from Mumbai to Delhi in 2017, multimillionaire Birju Kishore Salla falsely claimed there were hijackers and explosives in the cargo hold. Salla placed the letter in the lavatory. As a result, the aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Ahmedabad Airport.

He was also prosecuted under the new Anti-Hijacking Act of 2016, making him the first individual to be placed on the no-fly list.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The two latest instances of men urinating on female fellow passengers on two separate Air India flights have sparked significant outrage. The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), slammed the Tata Group-owned airline, stating its behaviour was "unprofessional" and resulted in "systemic failure" in reference to the November incident where a drunken male is reported to have urinated on a senior citizen.

The two latest instances of men urinating on female fellow passengers on two separate Air India flights have sparked significant outrage. The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), slammed the Tata Group-owned airline, stating its behaviour was "unprofessional" and resulted in "systemic failure" in reference to the November incident where a drunken male is reported to have urinated on a senior citizen. The First Information Report (FIR) states that despite the incident taking place late last year (November 2022), Air India finally reported it to the police on 4th January 2023 against the offender, a Mumbai-based man Shankar Mishra. In addition to imposing a 30-day flying ban on the Mishra, Air India has begun an investigation into the event that happened on one of its flights from New York to Delhi on 26th November 2022. Mishra was fired by his employer, US financial services company Wells Fargo as the VP of India business, on Friday. “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behavior and we find these allegations deeply disturbing. This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo. We are cooperating with law enforcement and ask that any additional inquiries be directed to them," Wells Fargo said in a statement. Also read | Joshimath sinking: Why is this town in India's Uttarakhand falling apart? A similar incident occurred on an Air India flight between Paris and Delhi in December of last year when a male passenger who was allegedly intoxicated urinated on a female passenger's blanket. Airport authorities told news agency PTI that the man was detained by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as the plane touched down but was subsequently released after the two passengers reached a "mutual solution" and the accused provided a "written apology." What are Air India's forward plans and DGCA's statutory amid such incidents? In a letter to Air India's staff on Friday, the airline CEO Campbell Wilson emphasised that anyone who violates flight regulations will be subject to prompt action. He emphasised the significance of reporting unfavourable situations on flights to authorities, even if the crew thinks the issue has been rectified. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also issued an advisory on Friday, outlining how to deal with unruly passengers on board and who is responsible for what under the rules. All scheduled airlines' operational chiefs received the advisory. The DGCA instructed airlines to deploy restrictions whenever all conciliation efforts had failed. DGCA issues an advisory to Head of Operations of all Scheduled Airlines with regard to handling unruly passengers on board and respective responsibilities as per the regulations. pic.twitter.com/b84yD3ya4u — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2023 × The statutory body said, "In the recent past, DGCA has noticed a few incidents of unruly behaviour and inappropriate conduct by the passengers on board the aircraft during flight, wherein it is observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions." Also watch | India's EAM S. Jaishankar takes on Europe's charges, calls out China The DGCA stated that the pilot of an aircraft is in charge of maintaining flight safety, crew member safety, and the safety of passengers and goods carried by aircraft. Notably, many provisions of the 1937 Aircraft Rules, DGCA rules, circulars, and airline manuals specify a person's responsibilities for dealing with unruly passengers. The cabin crew must diffuse a critical situation, according to the DGCA's additional statement. DGCA recommends 'handcuff-like device' to control unruly passengers on board. A senior DGCA official said they recommend devices kept in aircraft cabin used to restrain unruly passengers of level 3 type i.e. abusive physically violent category. The device looks like a handcuff. Some airlines in India like Air Asia are keeping it in the aircraft cabin. The statutory body further stated that restraining devices should only be used after all other conciliatory measures have failed. In the meanwhile, it is the Director-in-Flight Services' responsibility to notify the DGCA of such situations in the manner specified by Cabin Safety Circular 02/2010. Upon landing of the aircraft, airline representative shall lodge FIR with the concerned security agency at aerodrome, to whom, the unruly passenger shall be handed over," the DGCA said. What will land a passenger on the no-fly list? In accordance with the DGCA, instances of unruly behaviour include intentionally interfering with a crew member's performance of their duties, smoking inside an aircraft, using threatening or abusive language toward a crew member or other passengers, consuming alcohol or drugs that may cause disruption, and more. Level 1, 2, or 3 behaviours have been designated as disorderly and will determine the length of the suspension. Physical gestures, verbal abuse, and disorderly inebriation are examples of Level 1 behaviour and up to three-month suspension may result from this. Level 2 physical abuse, which includes "pushing, kicking, striking, grabbing or unwanted touching or sexual harassment," will result in a six-month suspension. Level 3 behaviour include those that pose a risk to one's life, such as endangering the aircraft's operational systems and engaging in "physical violence, including choking, eye gouging, deadly attack, attempted or successful breach of the flight crew compartment, etc." In such a case, the prohibition may last for a minimum of two years or longer might be permanent. According to PTI, the Ministry of Home Affairs can also give the DGCA and the airlines a list of those who have been deemed "national security concerns" so they can be put on the no-fly list. So far, only one Mumbai jeweller has been added to the no-fly list thus far, according to a report in The New Indian Express from 2020. On a Jet Airways aircraft from Mumbai to Delhi in 2017, multimillionaire Birju Kishore Salla falsely claimed there were hijackers and explosives in the cargo hold. Salla placed the letter in the lavatory. As a result, the aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Ahmedabad Airport. He was also prosecuted under the new Anti-Hijacking Act of 2016, making him the first individual to be placed on the no-fly list. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: DGCA issues advisory to airlines for handling unruly passengers on board, what does it entail?

The bizarre incidents of people urinating on board Air India flights are declining to stay off the news cycle. The latest incident came out in public on Wednesday and entailed a revelation that a drunk man urinated on the blanket of a co-passenger while the Air India flight was on its way from Paris to New Delhi. The incident reportedly took place on December 6, 2022.&nbsp;

This is eleven days after an incident from November 26 came to the fore that said that a man allegedly urinated on an elderly woman during an Air India flight between New York and New Delhi.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pathetic-drunk-man-urinates-on-woman-in-new-york-delhi-air-india-flight-woman-reports-to-tata-group-chairman-549261">Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month</a>

The shocking incidents took place within a gap of eleven&nbsp;days.

Sources cited by news agency ANI said that the incident of December 6 was not reported in writing to Delhi Police or Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

"No written report has been filed with CISF and Delhi police regarding the incident on Dec 6," a source told ANI.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-air-india-slapped-with-1215-mn-fine-for-delay-in-refunds-534628">World Business Watch: Air India slapped with $121.5 mn fine for delay in refunds | WION</a>

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A DGCA official reportedly also said no report has been filed with them regarding December 6 incident.

"No report has been filed with DGCA regarding December 6 incident," the official told ANI.

It is reported that the male passenger involved in the incident on Air India AI-142 flight was detained&nbsp;by the CISF at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport after the flight landed. However,&nbsp;he was allowed to go after he apologised in writing to the co-passenger and no police case was filed.

DGCA issues show-cause notices for dereliction of duty to the concerned people in such cases. 
 
About November 26 incident, Delhi Police registered an FIR and Air India on Wednesday imposed a 30-day flying ban on the man who had allegedly urinated on an elderly co-passenger during a New York-Delhi flight.&nbsp;

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The bizarre incidents of people urinating on board Air India flights are declining to stay off the news cycle. The latest incident came out in public on Wednesday and entailed a revelation that a drunk man urinated on the blanket of a co-passenger while the Air India flight was on its way from Paris to New Delhi.

The bizarre incidents of people urinating on board Air India flights are declining to stay off the news cycle. The latest incident came out in public on Wednesday and entailed a revelation that a drunk man urinated on the blanket of a co-passenger while the Air India flight was on its way from Paris to New Delhi. The incident reportedly took place on December 6, 2022. This is eleven days after an incident from November 26 came to the fore that said that a man allegedly urinated on an elderly woman during an Air India flight between New York and New Delhi. ALSO READ | Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month The shocking incidents took place within a gap of eleven days. Sources cited by news agency ANI said that the incident of December 6 was not reported in writing to Delhi Police or Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). "No written report has been filed with CISF and Delhi police regarding the incident on Dec 6," a source told ANI. WATCH | World Business Watch: Air India slapped with $121.5 mn fine for delay in refunds | WION × A DGCA official reportedly also said no report has been filed with them regarding December 6 incident. "No report has been filed with DGCA regarding December 6 incident," the official told ANI. It is reported that the male passenger involved in the incident on Air India AI-142 flight was detained by the CISF at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport after the flight landed. However, he was allowed to go after he apologised in writing to the co-passenger and no police case was filed. DGCA issues show-cause notices for dereliction of duty to the concerned people in such cases. About November 26 incident, Delhi Police registered an FIR and Air India on Wednesday imposed a 30-day flying ban on the man who had allegedly urinated on an elderly co-passenger during a New York-Delhi flight. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Drunk man allegedly urinates inside Air India flight in second such incident

In a shockingly bizarre incident, a man allegedly unzipped his pants and urinated on a woman&nbsp;co-passenger on an Air India flight. The man was drunk when he exposed himself to the woman co-passenger, a senior citizen who was seated on the aisle side in business class of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi.&nbsp;

During the incident, the woman, who was in her seventies, alerted the cabin crew but they failed to apprehend the unruly passenger.

The woman later alleged that the "crew was not proactive in managing a very sensitive and traumatic situation". 
 
Air India has imposed a one-month ban on a male passenger and also lodged a police complaint against him for urinating on a 71-year-woman co-passenger in a drunken state.&nbsp;

An internal committee has also been constituted to "probe the lapses on part of Air India’s crew and address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation", the airline said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-deploys-woman-officer-for-the-first-time-in-siachen-glacier-549256">Indian Army deploys woman officer for the first time in Siachen Glacier</a>

The incident took place on 26th November, 2022 and some action was taken against the man only when the woman sent a letter to N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Group, which owns Air India.&nbsp;

Narrating the incident in the letter, the woman was quoted by the Times of India as saying that soon after "the lunch was served and lights were switched off...another passenger walked to my seats, completely inebriated."

"He unzipped his pants, relieved himself and continued to expose me to his private parts...my clothes, shoes and bags were completely soaked in urine."

The woman also alleged that after the incident, the man was allowed to walk off freely as soon as the plane landed in Delhi.&nbsp;

Air India constituted an internal committee to probe the incident.

"The matter is under government committee and the decision is awaited", an official said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also sought a report of the incident from the airline.

"We are seeking a report from the Airline and shall take action against those found negligent,"&nbsp;the DGCA said on Wednesday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stunning-zero-rhinos-poached-in-the-indian-state-of-assam-in-nearly-45-years-549207">STUNNING! Zero rhinos poached in the Indian state of Assam in nearly 45 years</a>

After urinating, the man continued to stand there, exposing himself and moved only after one of her co-passengers asked him to leave, according to reports.

The woman passenger cleaned herself in the airline lavatory, the crew gave her a set of pyjamas and disposable slippers to change into.&nbsp;

Air India has lodged a police complaint regarding the incident.

The airline&nbsp;has also constituted an internal committee in this incident and recommended putting the male passenger on the 'no-fly list'.

Watch |&nbsp;Tata Group-owned Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets: Report

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Recently, Air India&nbsp;was also among the few airlines called out by playback singer Benny Dayal for&nbsp;mishandling the instruments of musicians travelling across the country.

"Indigo, Vistara, Air India, SpiceJet, you guys have zero care or concern for a musician's instrument,"&nbsp;Dayal said in a video posted on his official Instagram account.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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In a shockingly bizarre incident, a man allegedly unzipped his pants and urinated on a woman co-passenger on an Air India flight. The man was drunk when he exposed himself to the woman co-passenger, a senior citizen who was seated on the aisle side in business class of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi.

In a shockingly bizarre incident, a man allegedly unzipped his pants and urinated on a woman co-passenger on an Air India flight. The man was drunk when he exposed himself to the woman co-passenger, a senior citizen who was seated on the aisle side in business class of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi. During the incident, the woman, who was in her seventies, alerted the cabin crew but they failed to apprehend the unruly passenger. The woman later alleged that the "crew was not proactive in managing a very sensitive and traumatic situation". Air India has imposed a one-month ban on a male passenger and also lodged a police complaint against him for urinating on a 71-year-woman co-passenger in a drunken state. An internal committee has also been constituted to "probe the lapses on part of Air India’s crew and address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation", the airline said. Also Read | Indian Army deploys woman officer for the first time in Siachen Glacier The incident took place on 26th November, 2022 and some action was taken against the man only when the woman sent a letter to N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Group, which owns Air India. Narrating the incident in the letter, the woman was quoted by the Times of India as saying that soon after "the lunch was served and lights were switched off...another passenger walked to my seats, completely inebriated." "He unzipped his pants, relieved himself and continued to expose me to his private parts...my clothes, shoes and bags were completely soaked in urine." The woman also alleged that after the incident, the man was allowed to walk off freely as soon as the plane landed in Delhi. Air India constituted an internal committee to probe the incident. "The matter is under government committee and the decision is awaited", an official said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also sought a report of the incident from the airline. "We are seeking a report from the Airline and shall take action against those found negligent," the DGCA said on Wednesday. Also Read | STUNNING! Zero rhinos poached in the Indian state of Assam in nearly 45 years After urinating, the man continued to stand there, exposing himself and moved only after one of her co-passengers asked him to leave, according to reports. The woman passenger cleaned herself in the airline lavatory, the crew gave her a set of pyjamas and disposable slippers to change into. Air India has lodged a police complaint regarding the incident. The airline has also constituted an internal committee in this incident and recommended putting the male passenger on the 'no-fly list'. Watch | Tata Group-owned Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets: Report × Recently, Air India was also among the few airlines called out by playback singer Benny Dayal for mishandling the instruments of musicians travelling across the country. "Indigo, Vistara, Air India, SpiceJet, you guys have zero care or concern for a musician's instrument," Dayal said in a video posted on his official Instagram account. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pathetic! Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month

Air India is close to placing landmark orders of 500 jetliners worth tens of billions of dollars from both Airbus and Boeing. The ambition has been successful under the Tata Group conglomerate.

World Business Watch | Tata Group-owned Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets: Report

Air India is close to placing a historic order for as many as 500 jetliners worth tens of billions of dollars from Airbus and Boeing, said a report by Reuters citing sources. This comes months after the Tata Group conglomerate officially took over the airline from the Indian government following an Rs 18,000 crore ($180 billion) deal.&nbsp;

Tata Group recently also announced the merger of Air India with Vistara, its joint venture with Singapore Airlines, thereby creating a significant presence in the domestic and international markets.&nbsp;

Why is this deal so important?

The report citing anonymous industry sources claims that the order includes at least 400 narrow-body jets and 100 or more wide-bodies jets like several Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s and 777s. If the deal is inked, it would be among some of the biggest purchases by a single airline in terms of volume, surpassing the combined order of over 460 Airbus and Boeing jets from American Airlines placed over a decade ago.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-tata-group-owned-air-india-nears-historic-order-for-up-to-500-jets-report-542151">World Business Watch | Tata Group-owned Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets: Report</a>

However, despite significant expected discounts, it could still cost the company over $100 billion dollars, at list prices. This comes as the plane giants have faced an increase in demand following the ease of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions amid mounting industrial and environmental pressures.&nbsp;

These would also allow Airbus to utilise production slots for their A350s which had been initiated for Russia's Aeroflot and have been vacant since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent western sanctions on Moscow.&nbsp;

The merger of Air India with Vistara as well as the Singapore Airlines <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/singapore-airlines-and-tata-group-to-merge-air-india-vistara-by-march-2024-538653">joint venture</a> gives the conglomerate access to over 200 additional aircraft, making it India’s largest international carrier and the second largest in the domestic market.&nbsp;

If the deal is inked, the purchase could take at least a decade to be delivered, in addition to the Vistara deal. The potential procurement seems to be an indication of the Tata group’s expansion to take over a significant share of traffic flows to and from India which is currently dominated by foreign airlines like Emirates. In the domestic market, Indigo is one of the other biggest players.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jrd-tata-air-india-and-the-determination-to-fly-high-539915">Singapore Airlines buys 25.1% stake in Air India, that helped it in its launch</a> 
 
In the larger context, if the purchase of the additional 500 jets is finalised, it would significantly contribute to the Indian economy with the country being one of the largest airline markets in the world as&nbsp;more Indians look&nbsp;for affordable and convenient travel options. Furthermore, it would significantly contribute to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aim of expanding the economy to $5 trillion.&nbsp; 
 
Tata’s investment into the debt-laden flag carrier so far

Earlier this year, Tata bought the debt-laden flag carrier from the Indian government after nearly seven decades since it was founded by the conglomerate’s JRD Tata in 1932 and later nationalised. The group, at the time of the takeover, had paid Rs 2,700 crore ($27 billion) in cash and had also taken over Rs 15,300 crore ($153 billion) of the airline’s debt.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-decides-to-procure-airbus-a350-aircraft-first-planes-delivery-likely-by-march-2023-488698">Air India decides to procure Airbus A350 aircraft; first plane's delivery likely by March 2023</a>

With the Air India takeover, Tata gained access to valuable flying rights and landing slots, particularly in the United States and Europe. The group had also announced that it would spend more than $400 million to refurbish the interiors of its entire wide-body fleet in a bid to attract more flyers. This also included the introduction of a premium economy cabin, it said, adding that the first aircraft with the improvements will be rolled out in mid-2024. 
 
Has the Tata-owned airline made any purchases yet?

So far, there have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-set-to-make-one-of-the-largest-aircraft-deals-in-the-history-490213">multiple reports</a> of a landmark purchase on the horizon by Tata-owned Air India, but the company as well as the aeroplane giants have refused to comment on the same.&nbsp;

Aside from the airline's CEO, Campbell Wilson, in November, there have been no official indications of deals. Wilson had said, “we are in deep discussion with Boeing, Airbus and engine manufacturers for a historical order of the latest generation aircraft that will power Air India's medium- and long-term growth.”

He added, “At the risk of gross understatement, the investment will be substantial.”

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-air-india-slapped-with-1215-mn-fine-for-delay-in-refunds-534628">World Business Watch: Air India slapped with $121.5 mn fine for delay in refunds</a>

On Sunday, another report by the Economic Times, citing anonymous sources, said that the Air India is close to signing a deal with Boeing Co. to buy up to 150, 737 Max planes.

It added that the company is likely to place an order for at least 50 jets while they may later procure as many as 150.&nbsp;

What are some of the hurdles to this potential purchase?

Once known for its lavishly decorated planes and stellar service in the 1950s, very few opt for the airline now either on domestic or international routes. It is largely perceived as another government department synonymous with being an unreliable and shabbily managed airline with mounting debt.

Nationalised in 1953, its reputation declined in the mid-2000s amid financial woes.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/singapore-airlines-ltd-owned-vistara-announces-merger-with-air-india-538537">Singapore Airlines Ltd-owned Vistara announces merger with Air India</a>

The airline had a net debt of Rs 60,000 crore ($600 billion) at the time of purchase and former chief of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata had said, “While admittedly it will take considerable effort to rebuild Air India, it will hopefully provide a very strong market opportunity to the Tata Group's presence in the aviation industry.”

The Reuters report, citing experts, said there are several hurdles in Tata group’s ambitious revival of Air India including “frail domestic infrastructure, pilot shortages and the threat of tough competition with established Gulf and other carriers.”&nbsp;

Additionally, the airline might also struggle to procure the medium-haul Airbus A321neos that were reportedly being ordered for the Air India-Vistara tie-up, as the European planemaker sold out for at least the next five years or more.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Air India is close to placing a historic order for as many as 500 jetliners worth tens of billions of dollars from Airbus and Boeing, said a report by Reuters citing sources.

Air India is close to placing a historic order for as many as 500 jetliners worth tens of billions of dollars from Airbus and Boeing, said a report by Reuters citing sources. This comes months after the Tata Group conglomerate officially took over the airline from the Indian government following an Rs 18,000 crore ($180 billion) deal. Tata Group recently also announced the merger of Air India with Vistara, its joint venture with Singapore Airlines, thereby creating a significant presence in the domestic and international markets. Why is this deal so important? The report citing anonymous industry sources claims that the order includes at least 400 narrow-body jets and 100 or more wide-bodies jets like several Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s and 777s. If the deal is inked, it would be among some of the biggest purchases by a single airline in terms of volume, surpassing the combined order of over 460 Airbus and Boeing jets from American Airlines placed over a decade ago. ALSO WATCH | World Business Watch | Tata Group-owned Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets: Report However, despite significant expected discounts, it could still cost the company over $100 billion dollars, at list prices. This comes as the plane giants have faced an increase in demand following the ease of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions amid mounting industrial and environmental pressures. These would also allow Airbus to utilise production slots for their A350s which had been initiated for Russia's Aeroflot and have been vacant since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent western sanctions on Moscow. The merger of Air India with Vistara as well as the Singapore Airlines joint venture gives the conglomerate access to over 200 additional aircraft, making it India’s largest international carrier and the second largest in the domestic market. If the deal is inked, the purchase could take at least a decade to be delivered, in addition to the Vistara deal. The potential procurement seems to be an indication of the Tata group’s expansion to take over a significant share of traffic flows to and from India which is currently dominated by foreign airlines like Emirates. In the domestic market, Indigo is one of the other biggest players. ALSO READ | Singapore Airlines buys 25.1% stake in Air India, that helped it in its launch In the larger context, if the purchase of the additional 500 jets is finalised, it would significantly contribute to the Indian economy with the country being one of the largest airline markets in the world as more Indians look for affordable and convenient travel options. Furthermore, it would significantly contribute to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aim of expanding the economy to $5 trillion. Tata’s investment into the debt-laden flag carrier so far Earlier this year, Tata bought the debt-laden flag carrier from the Indian government after nearly seven decades since it was founded by the conglomerate’s JRD Tata in 1932 and later nationalised. The group, at the time of the takeover, had paid Rs 2,700 crore ($27 billion) in cash and had also taken over Rs 15,300 crore ($153 billion) of the airline’s debt. ALSO READ | Air India decides to procure Airbus A350 aircraft; first plane's delivery likely by March 2023 With the Air India takeover, Tata gained access to valuable flying rights and landing slots, particularly in the United States and Europe. The group had also announced that it would spend more than $400 million to refurbish the interiors of its entire wide-body fleet in a bid to attract more flyers. This also included the introduction of a premium economy cabin, it said, adding that the first aircraft with the improvements will be rolled out in mid-2024. Has the Tata-owned airline made any purchases yet? So far, there have been multiple reports of a landmark purchase on the horizon by Tata-owned Air India, but the company as well as the aeroplane giants have refused to comment on the same. Aside from the airline's CEO, Campbell Wilson, in November, there have been no official indications of deals. Wilson had said, “we are in deep discussion with Boeing, Airbus and engine manufacturers for a historical order of the latest generation aircraft that will power Air India's medium- and long-term growth.” He added, “At the risk of gross understatement, the investment will be substantial.” ALSO WATCH | World Business Watch: Air India slapped with $121.5 mn fine for delay in refunds On Sunday, another report by the Economic Times, citing anonymous sources, said that the Air India is close to signing a deal with Boeing Co. to buy up to 150, 737 Max planes. It added that the company is likely to place an order for at least 50 jets while they may later procure as many as 150. What are some of the hurdles to this potential purchase? Once known for its lavishly decorated planes and stellar service in the 1950s, very few opt for the airline now either on domestic or international routes. It is largely perceived as another government department synonymous with being an unreliable and shabbily managed airline with mounting debt. Nationalised in 1953, its reputation declined in the mid-2000s amid financial woes. ALSO READ | Singapore Airlines Ltd-owned Vistara announces merger with Air India The airline had a net debt of Rs 60,000 crore ($600 billion) at the time of purchase and former chief of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata had said, “While admittedly it will take considerable effort to rebuild Air India, it will hopefully provide a very strong market opportunity to the Tata Group's presence in the aviation industry.” The Reuters report, citing experts, said there are several hurdles in Tata group’s ambitious revival of Air India including “frail domestic infrastructure, pilot shortages and the threat of tough competition with established Gulf and other carriers.” Additionally, the airline might also struggle to procure the medium-haul Airbus A321neos that were reportedly being ordered for the Air India-Vistara tie-up, as the European planemaker sold out for at least the next five years or more. (With inputs from agencies)

Tata-owned Air India to place historic order of at least 500 jets: Here’s all you need to know

Singapore Airlines, currently one of the best airlines in the world, will become a partial owner of Air India, the airline which once inspired and helped the former in formulating the launch plan. Popularly known as Maharaja, Air India was Singapore Airlines' role model when the carrier commenced operations in 1972.

According to reports, a delegation of Air India was sent by India's former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to Singapore on request, at a time when the nation was making efforts to attract investment and was planning to launch an international airline.

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In the early 1970s, the Singapore government under then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was making efforts to establish an international airline which will be able to showcase Singapore's world-class capabilities to the global nations. India was requested to quickly send Air India's expert staff to Singapore.

Earlier reports also indicate that Singapore Airlines was willing to enter into a collaboration with Air India so that it can acquire the necessary know-how in service standards.

In the early 1970s, the global skies were dominated by Asian carriers like Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines with their redefined concept of service. However, the first Asian airline which established a high standard of service and became an inspiration for other airlines in the 1940s was the Air India.

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Air India, which was founded by JRD Tata, was the first Indian global entity in the 1940s and 1950s to proudly soar the Indian flag in the international skies. The airline was known to be one of the best airlines in the global aviation industry. However, Air India's fate took a different turn after it was nationalised back in 1953.

Now five decades later, Singapore Airlines, one of the world's leading airlines today, is set to become a 25.1% stakeholder in Air India, the airline which had once supported its very launch.

Singapore Airlines, currently one of the best airlines in the world, will become a partial owner of Air India, the airline which once inspired and helped the former in formulating the launch plan.

Singapore Airlines, currently one of the best airlines in the world, will become a partial owner of Air India, the airline which once inspired and helped the former in formulating the launch plan. Popularly known as Maharaja, Air India was Singapore Airlines' role model when the carrier commenced operations in 1972. According to reports, a delegation of Air India was sent by India's former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to Singapore on request, at a time when the nation was making efforts to attract investment and was planning to launch an international airline. ALSO READ| Bhopal gas tragedy: Tainted company continued to sell products discreetly in India, says report In the early 1970s, the Singapore government under then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was making efforts to establish an international airline which will be able to showcase Singapore's world-class capabilities to the global nations. India was requested to quickly send Air India's expert staff to Singapore. Earlier reports also indicate that Singapore Airlines was willing to enter into a collaboration with Air India so that it can acquire the necessary know-how in service standards. In the early 1970s, the global skies were dominated by Asian carriers like Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines with their redefined concept of service. However, the first Asian airline which established a high standard of service and became an inspiration for other airlines in the 1940s was the Air India. ALSO READ| India’s Greenhouse-in-a-box wins Prince William’s Earthshot Prize 2022 Air India, which was founded by JRD Tata, was the first Indian global entity in the 1940s and 1950s to proudly soar the Indian flag in the international skies. The airline was known to be one of the best airlines in the global aviation industry. However, Air India's fate took a different turn after it was nationalised back in 1953. Now five decades later, Singapore Airlines, one of the world's leading airlines today, is set to become a 25.1% stakeholder in Air India, the airline which had once supported its very launch.

Singapore Airlines buys 25.1% stake in Air India, that helped it in its launch

Life has come full circle for Singapore Airlines. One of the best airlines in the world currently, will become a partial owner in India's National carrier Air India, that once inspired Singapore Airlines and helped it in formulating the launch plan.

Singapore Airlines to be partial owner of Air India, to hold 25.1% stake in latter airlines

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Tata Group have agreed to merge Air India and Vistara, with SIA also investing $252 million in Air India as part of the transaction. The merger is aimed to be completed by March 2024.

Singapore Airlines and Tata Group to merge Air India, Vistara by March 2024

On Tuesday, Singapore Airlines Lt (SIA) announced its plans to invest $250 million into India's national carrier, Air India. The deal is&nbsp;as part of a merger of its Vistara full-service airline joint venture with Tata Sons.

Following the deal, the airline will emerge as Air India's 25.1 per cent owner. Under the agreement, it stands to spend up to&nbsp;$615 million which as per reports will be stake, payable after the completion of the merger. The company said that it would fund the growth plans through its internal cash resources.

The Singaporean carrier in a statement said that subject to regulatory approvals, the two companies are aiming to complete the merger by March 2024. Additionally, the pair have agreed to "additional capital injections&nbsp;in Air India if required to fund growth and operations over the next two financial years".&nbsp;

SIA in its official notification of the merger announced that it will also invest US$250 million (INR 20,585 million or S$360 million) in Air India as part of the transaction.

As per Reuters, the merger will create a strong rival for India's dominant carrier IndiGo, while providing Singaporean airlines with a more solid foothold in "one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets".

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In addition, it will enable Tata to consolidate its brands around full-service Air India and low-cost Air India Express. The Indian conglomerate recently brought out its former partner AirAsia and their joint project AirAsia India is also being merged with Air India Express.

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran in a statement called the merger an "important milestone" in the journey to make "Air India a truly world-class airline".&nbsp;

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He added that they are working to transform the national carrier "with the aim of providing great customer experience, every time, for every customer. As part of the transformation, Air India is focusing on growing both its network and fleet, revamping its customer proposition, enhancing safety, reliability, and on-time performance."

Singapore Airlines Ltd's Chief Executive Goh Choon Phong said "We will work together to support Air India's transformation programme, unlock its significant potential, and restore it to its position as a leading airline on the global stage".

Currently, the Singaporean carrier owns a 49 per cent stake in the Tata SIA airlines which operate Vistara, while the rest is owned by Tata Sons.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On Tuesday, Singapore Airlines Lt (SIA) announced its plans to invest $250 million into India's national carrier, Air India. The deal is as part of a merger of its Vistara full-service airline joint venture with Tata Sons.

On Tuesday, Singapore Airlines Lt (SIA) announced its plans to invest $250 million into India's national carrier, Air India. The deal is as part of a merger of its Vistara full-service airline joint venture with Tata Sons. Following the deal, the airline will emerge as Air India's 25.1 per cent owner. Under the agreement, it stands to spend up to $615 million which as per reports will be stake, payable after the completion of the merger. The company said that it would fund the growth plans through its internal cash resources. The Singaporean carrier in a statement said that subject to regulatory approvals, the two companies are aiming to complete the merger by March 2024. Additionally, the pair have agreed to "additional capital injections in Air India if required to fund growth and operations over the next two financial years". SIA in its official notification of the merger announced that it will also invest US$250 million (INR 20,585 million or S$360 million) in Air India as part of the transaction. As per Reuters, the merger will create a strong rival for India's dominant carrier IndiGo, while providing Singaporean airlines with a more solid foothold in "one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets". Also read | Forbes India's 100 richest list: Check how many women billionaire are in the list In addition, it will enable Tata to consolidate its brands around full-service Air India and low-cost Air India Express. The Indian conglomerate recently brought out its former partner AirAsia and their joint project AirAsia India is also being merged with Air India Express. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran in a statement called the merger an "important milestone" in the journey to make "Air India a truly world-class airline". Also read | Singapore Airlines, Tata Group in ‘confidential talks’ over Air India, Vistara integration He added that they are working to transform the national carrier "with the aim of providing great customer experience, every time, for every customer. As part of the transformation, Air India is focusing on growing both its network and fleet, revamping its customer proposition, enhancing safety, reliability, and on-time performance." Singapore Airlines Ltd's Chief Executive Goh Choon Phong said "We will work together to support Air India's transformation programme, unlock its significant potential, and restore it to its position as a leading airline on the global stage". Currently, the Singaporean carrier owns a 49 per cent stake in the Tata SIA airlines which operate Vistara, while the rest is owned by Tata Sons. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Singapore Airlines Ltd-owned Vistara announces merger with Air India

According to the airline's CEO on Saturday, Tata Group-owned Air India is in discussions with Boeing and Airbus about placing an order for new aircraft while also repairing grounded aircraft and leasing aircraft to suit its immediate needs.&nbsp;

The autos-to-steel conglomerate, which finalised the acquisition of Air India in January, confronts a difficult battle to modernise an ageing fleet, enhance service levels, and restore the company's financial health, according to industry analysts.&nbsp;

Campbell Wilson, the airline's chief executive, stated at a Tata corporate event in Mumbai that "we are in deep discussion with Boeing, Airbus and engine manufacturers for a historical order of the latest generation aircraft that will power Air India's medium- and long-term growth."

In order to boost its market share to 30 per cent on both domestic and international routes over the following five years, according to Wilson, Air India intends to grow its fleet and international network.&nbsp;

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Industry estimates indicate that Air India currently holds a 10 per cent&nbsp;domestic market share and a 12 per cent&nbsp;international market share.&nbsp;

In an effort to increase market share and raise service standards, Air India said in September that it will lease 30 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, more than doubling the size of its fleet.&nbsp;

In July, industry insiders claimed that Air India was getting closer to choosing between Airbus and Boeing for an order worth $50 billion at list prices.

(with inputs from agencies)

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According to the airline's CEO on Saturday, Tata Group-owned Air India is in discussions with Boeing and Airbus about placing an order for new aircraft while also repairing grounded aircraft and leasing aircraft to suit its immediate needs.

According to the airline's CEO on Saturday, Tata Group-owned Air India is in discussions with Boeing and Airbus about placing an order for new aircraft while also repairing grounded aircraft and leasing aircraft to suit its immediate needs. The autos-to-steel conglomerate, which finalised the acquisition of Air India in January, confronts a difficult battle to modernise an ageing fleet, enhance service levels, and restore the company's financial health, according to industry analysts. Campbell Wilson, the airline's chief executive, stated at a Tata corporate event in Mumbai that "we are in deep discussion with Boeing, Airbus and engine manufacturers for a historical order of the latest generation aircraft that will power Air India's medium- and long-term growth." In order to boost its market share to 30 per cent on both domestic and international routes over the following five years, according to Wilson, Air India intends to grow its fleet and international network. Also Read: Snowstorm restricts travel ahead of thanksgiving in New York Industry estimates indicate that Air India currently holds a 10 per cent domestic market share and a 12 per cent international market share. In an effort to increase market share and raise service standards, Air India said in September that it will lease 30 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, more than doubling the size of its fleet. In July, industry insiders claimed that Air India was getting closer to choosing between Airbus and Boeing for an order worth $50 billion at list prices. (with inputs from agencies)

Tata Group-owned Air India in talks with Boeing and Airbus to buy planes

In an effort to increase both its market share and worldwide network, Air India will start offering premium economy on a few of its long-haul&nbsp;overseas flights starting&nbsp;next month, according to the airline's CEO Campbell Wilson. Wilson stated in his address at a JRD Tata Memorial Trust event in Mumbai that the airline will raise its market share to at least 30 per cent&nbsp;on both domestic&nbsp;and international flights.

The airline is putting its long-term resuscitation strategy into play, and over the next five years, it plans to increase both the size of its wide-body and narrow-body fleets and the size of its international network.

"The short-term actions have been to replace carpets, curtains, seat cushions, and covers. To fix defective seats and inflight entertainment systems as fast as supply chains will allow. And where parts are no longer available in the market, to work with the likes of Tata Technologies to design and manufacture parts ourselves."

"We've recently completely revamped the domestic inflight menu, and will be doing likewise, as well as launching premium economy on certain long-haul international flights next month," the Air India CEO and MD said.

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Almost 20 airplanes that had been grounded for years owing to a lack of funds and components have been repaired by the airline. Apart&nbsp;from cabin furnishings, this necessitated acquiring more than 30,000 parts that had been stolen over the years to keep other planes flying.

In addition to reviving long-grounded aircraft, CEO Campbell&nbsp;claimed that the airline had finalised leases for 30 more aircraft that will be delivered over the course of the next 12 months, beginning next week and that more leases are still being finalized.

Also WATCH |&nbsp;Peru plane crash: Two killed in Latam Airlines crash; no harm to passengers, flight crew's life

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"Beyond these short-term additions, we are in deep discussion with Boeing, Airbus, and engine manufacturers for a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vikram-s-rocket-launch-live-indias-first-private-rocket-takes-off-535206"> historic order</a> of the latest-generation aircraft that will power Air India's medium and long-term growth. At the risk of gross understatement, the investment will be substantial," he said. &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In an effort to increase both its market share and worldwide network, Air India will start offering premium economy on a few of its long-haul overseas flights starting next month, according to the airline's CEO Campbell Wilson.

In an effort to increase both its market share and worldwide network, Air India will start offering premium economy on a few of its long-haul overseas flights starting next month, according to the airline's CEO Campbell Wilson. Wilson stated in his address at a JRD Tata Memorial Trust event in Mumbai that the airline will raise its market share to at least 30 per cent on both domestic and international flights. The airline is putting its long-term resuscitation strategy into play, and over the next five years, it plans to increase both the size of its wide-body and narrow-body fleets and the size of its international network. "The short-term actions have been to replace carpets, curtains, seat cushions, and covers. To fix defective seats and inflight entertainment systems as fast as supply chains will allow. And where parts are no longer available in the market, to work with the likes of Tata Technologies to design and manufacture parts ourselves." "We've recently completely revamped the domestic inflight menu, and will be doing likewise, as well as launching premium economy on certain long-haul international flights next month," the Air India CEO and MD said. Also read | From Bhubaneswar to Sharm El-Sheikh, journey of India's youngest climate activist Almost 20 airplanes that had been grounded for years owing to a lack of funds and components have been repaired by the airline. Apart from cabin furnishings, this necessitated acquiring more than 30,000 parts that had been stolen over the years to keep other planes flying. In addition to reviving long-grounded aircraft, CEO Campbell claimed that the airline had finalised leases for 30 more aircraft that will be delivered over the course of the next 12 months, beginning next week and that more leases are still being finalized. Also WATCH | Peru plane crash: Two killed in Latam Airlines crash; no harm to passengers, flight crew's life "Beyond these short-term additions, we are in deep discussion with Boeing, Airbus, and engine manufacturers for a historic order of the latest-generation aircraft that will power Air India's medium and long-term growth. At the risk of gross understatement, the investment will be substantial," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Air India plans to offer premium economy on long-haul flights: CEO & MD Campbell Wilson

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