When I worked for Star Alliance in 2011, the politics surrounding Air India’s failed bid to join the Alliance were fascinating. I am bound from disclosing the nitty gritty details, but the situation opened my eyes to how much maneuvering and backstabbing goes on in the airline industry. Now Air India is again making a […]
Air India Passengers Wait 9 Hours to Travel from London Gatwick to Heathrow
I offer my condolences to the 300+ passengers on Air India flight 131 from Mumbai to London earlier this week, who were trapped on a 777 for nine hours in a comedy of errors that further diminishes the image of Air India. Fog is not something out of the ordinary in London, but the early […]
Air India Has No Money to Pay for Boeing 787s
Poor Air India. When faced with a bloated staff and sagging financial numbers, rather than trim back operations and layoff non-essential personnel, they compensated for their abnormally high aircraft to staff ratio by ordering new airplanes–27 Boeing 787s. The second carrier slated to take delivery of the Dreamliner (ANA will be first) now finds itself […]
Court Orders Air India To Rehire Flight Attendant Fired For Being Too Fat
I generally avoid stories about weight because it is a sensitive topic that isn’t worth getting people worked up over (unlike the TSA…), but I do want to update you on an ongoing legal battle in India which has finally concluded. 44-year-old Nipa Dhar was dismissed from her job as in 2001 as an Air India […]
United Airlines Bans “Tandoori Karen” After Racist Tirade Against Indian-American Family
United Airlines has reportedly banned a woman from future travel on “the Friendly Skies” after a not-so-friendly racist encounter with an Indian-American family at Los Angeles International Airport. “Tandoori Karen” Rages Against Insidan-Americans At Los Angeles International Airport After United Airlines Flight A United flight from Cancun (CUN) to Los Angeles (LAX) landed at LAX […]
My Indian Visa Scare At Paro International Airport
It was time to head home from Bhutan and I had booked a rather complicated route back on three separate tickets. While trying to check in for my Bhutan Airlines flight to Delhi, I encountered an Indian visa issue that nearly scuttled the trip home. Indian Visa Scare On Bhutan Airlines – Transit Without Visa […]
El Salvador Adds $1,130 “Airport Improvement Fee” For Africans, Indians
As flagged by One Mile At A Time, El Salvador has added a staggeringly high tariff it calls an “Airport Improvement Fee” for citizens of India and several African nations who are flying through El Salvador International Airport. New “Airport Improvement Fee” Targets Citizens Of India, Africa Flying Via El Salvador International Airport Passengers traveling […]
Qatar Airways CEO Laments India’s Aviation Protectionism
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker laments what he calls the protectionist nature of the Indian aviation industry, saying the true victims are the Indian middle class. Qatar Airways CEO On Indian Aviation Speaking on CNN, the veteran chief executive of Qatar Airways called the aviation industry in India a “closed regime” that is “hugely […]
Drunk Man Urinates On Seatmate On American Airlines Flight To India
A young man is in a heap of trouble after drinking too much onboard his American Airlines flight to India and then (indirectly) urinating on his seatmate. A flight ban from AA should be the least of his concerns. Drunk Man Urinates On Seatmate On India-Bound American Airlines Flight The incident occurred onboard American Airlines […]
United Airlines Raises Baggage Fees To India – Will We See This On Other Routes?
Facing the double whammy of restricted routings over Russian airspace and higher fuel prices, United has substantially raised checked bag fees on its India flights. United says the move is only temporary. But will we see higher baggage fees on other routes as well? Higher Checked Baggage Fees To India On United Airlines United Airlines […]
United Airlines Upgrading Premium Cabin Meal Service To India, Israel
United Airlines in introducing fresh menus, local flavors, and more personalized service in Polaris business class and Premium Plus premium economy class on flights to Israel and India. United Airlines Will Debut New Menus On Flights To India, Israel In Business Class And Premium Economy As travel demands return and United faces competitive pressures from […]
United Airlines Suspends Two India Routes
United Airlines is suspending two India routes as it evaluates the feasibility of operating these routes while avoiding Russian airspace. With Russian Airspace In Question, United Airlines Suspends Two India Routes At his State of the Union address on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that Aeroflot and other Russian airlines would no longer be […]
Emirates Commences “Airbridge” To India
Following in the steps of Qatar Airways, Emirates will launch a humanitarian “airbridge” to India to deliver vital medical supplies at no charge. Emirates Launches Humanitarian Airbridge To India Earlier this month, Qatar Airways delivered 300 tonnes of medical supplies to India at no charge. These vital resources, assembled by humanitarian NGOs and delivered by […]
United Airlines Adds International Service To Ghana, India, Nigeria, South Africa
United Airlines will add a quintuplet of new international routes including service to Ghana, two destinations in India, Nigeria, and a second destination in South Africa. United Airlines Adds Five New International Routes To Africa and India San Francisco – Bangalore In what United calls its most-requested international route, new nonstop service between San Francisco […]
United Airlines Won’t Outsource Management Jobs To India After All…
United Airlines will not outsource management jobs to India and claims that its recent job postings were in error. United Airlines Posts Jobs In India In 2015 United launched an India Knowledge Center (IKC) as an extension of its U.S. data analytics teams. The IKC, located in Gurgaon about 30 minute from New Delhi in the state […]
Air Malta Eyes A321XLR Service to USA And India
Maltese flag-carrier Air Malta confirmed its intention to add service to New York and India with its incoming Airbus A321XLR. Air Malta chairman Charles Mangion told ATW: “An India connection is important if the local economy is to continue to grow.” He also added that he wants to add service to New York to capture a […]
Perfect Paneer On United Shows Why Airlines Should Embrace Indian Food
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. While perhaps not as crowd-pleasing as a hamburger or buffalo mac and cheese, Indian food provides airlines a […]
United Airlines Accelerates Resumption Of India Flights
With Pakistani airspace unexpectedly re-opened, United will resume flights to India earlier than originally planned. Yesterday, I wrote about United’s decision to delay the resumption of its service to India until late October. There, I suggested that aircraft had likely been re-allocated for other missions and therefore United was unlikely to modify the October 26th […]
Why Did United Airlines Cancel India Flights Until October 26th?
United Airlines will not resume flights to both New Delhi and Mumbai until at least October 26, 2019. This may have more to do with the 737 MAX than the closure of Pakistani airspace. Yesterday afternoon, United announced it would extend the suspension of its India flights until late October. Just hours later, Pakistan re-opened […]
United Airlines Suspends All India Service Until September 1st
United Airlines is extending the suspension of both of its India routes until at least September 1st. First it was the Pakistani airspace closure. Then it was saber-rattling over Iran. Then the Federal Aviation Administration banned flying in Iranian airspace. Now United is suspending its service between Newark and both New Delhi and Mumbai until […]
