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Air India wraps up ‘Taxi’ phase

The conclusion of phase one marked the beginning of ‘Take Off’, the second phase of transformation which is focused on developing the platforms, processes and systems needed to build toward excellence…reports Asian Lite News

Air India has concluded the first phase of its five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI.

The phase called ‘Taxi’, was focussed on addressing legacy issues of the flag carrier at scale and laying the foundation for future growth.

The conclusion marked the beginning of ‘Take Off’, the second phase of transformation which is focused on developing the platforms, processes and systems needed to build toward excellence.

Commenting on the conclusion of the ‘Taxi’ phase, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said: “The first six months of our transformation journey has engaged and united Air Indians behind a common cause, and made great strides in tackling many issues that had built up over the years.

“During this ‘Taxi’ phase, we have also come a long way in establishing foundations for growth. Our record-setting aircraft order, the commitment of $400 million to completely refurbish existing aircraft, the investment of $200 million in new IT and the recruitment of literally thousands of staff are but a few of the significant investments being made to restore Air India to the upper echelons of global aviation.

“As we move into our ‘Take Off’ phase, we will start seeing these investments bear fruit. All Air Indians are very grateful to partners and supporters as we continue this journey.”

Some of the significant achievements during the ‘Taxi’ phase included committing over $400 million for aircraft refurbishments; revamped menus on international and domestic routes; launching Premium Economy seats for the first time ever on select long-haul flights; among many other initiatives.

Besides, Air India also signed the industry’s largest-ever order for 470 aircraft and expedited fleet expansion with 36 leased planes, including 11 widebodies, being delivered in 2022-23.

On the digital front, $200 was being invested in upgrading IT systems which included implementing Salesforce for CRM integration and upgradation of SAP ERP system from obsolete mainframe to the cloud; upgradation of the website; employee self-service systems; learning management systems; safety management system; world-class rostering; and day-of-ops systems as also introducing iPads across the fleet to better empower crew and improve processes.

Meanwhile, the second ‘Take Off’ phase is focussed on building the right platforms and progress faster based on the momentum that has been established.

This phase will also witness the consolidation of the group airlines AirAsia India and Air India Express.

The development of a world-class training academy will also take shape as also the future direction and configuration of the airline’s line and base maintenance.

Vihaan.AI, which in Sanskrit signifies the dawn of a new era, has a detailed roadmap for Air India with clear milestones.

The plan is aimed at putting Air India on a path to sustained growth, profitability, and market leadership.

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Air India launches Amritsar-UK direct flight

The minister said that this is the 3rd connectivity between Amritsar and England and there are six international flights which are operational from Amritsar…reports Asian Lite News

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia virtually inaugurated a direct flight between Amritsar and UK’s Gatwick and said the new international connectivity will work as a catalyst for the development of the region.

“It is an emotional subject also as lakhs of people of Punjab live in the UK and this new service will connect families living in two different countries,” he added. Speaking on the infrastructure development at Amritsar Airport, Scindia said that the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the development of Amritsar Airport.

“The government has developed 13 parking aprons with an expenditure of Rs 50 crores, at the cost of Rs 100 crores, a parallel taxi-track has also been developed for easy movement of aircraft. A new integrated terminal has also been developed with an expenditure of Rs 250 crores,” he added.

On the connectivity front, the minister said that this is the 3rd connectivity between Amritsar and England and there are six international flights which are operational from Amritsar.

“By 2014 Amritsar was connected to only 6 cities, in 9 years under the leadership of PM Modi, it has increased to 21 cities, a jump of 250 per cent. Earlier, the weekly traffic movement was 217 per week which has now increased to 416 per week, an increase of 87 per cent,” the minister said.

Scindia further said that under the RCS UDAN scheme, with a budget of Rs 145.35 crore, 20 routes have been operational in Punjab and 4 more routes are planned to commence in the near future.

He also said that the government has signed an open sky offer with Canada wherein airline operators can operate unlimited flights between Indian cities and their Canadian counterparts.

The inauguration was attended by Som Parkash MoS, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, SK Mishra Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation Malwinder Singh Jaggi Secretary of Civil Aviation of Punjab and CEO-Air India Campbell Wilson. (ANI)

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Air India in game changer deal with Airbus, Boeing

The first of the new aircraft will enter service in late 2023, with the bulk to arrive from mid-2025 onwards…reports Asian Lite News

Air India, part of the Tata Sons conglomerate, on Tuesday announced that it has signed letters of intent with Airbus and Boeing to acquire both widebody and single-aisle aircraft.

The order comprises 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s and 10 Boeing 777-9s widebody aircraft, as well as 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. The A350 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines, and the B777/787s by engines from GE Aerospace. All single-aisle aircraft will be powered by engines from CFM International.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a video call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, Campbell Wilson, CEO, Air India, and Guillaume Faury, CEO, Airbus, on the occasion of the launch of a partnership between Air India and Airbus.

The Prime Minister highlighted the rapid expansion and growth of the civil aviation market in India, which will give impetus to greater connectivity between India and the rest of the world, and will in turn encourage tourism and business in the country.

Complimenting the strong presence of French companies in India, Modi also recalled the recent decision by French aerospace engine manufacturer SAFRAN to set up its largest MRO facility in India to service aircraft engines for both Indian and international carriers.

Commenting on the occasion, Tata Sons Chairman Chandrasekaran said: “Air India is on a large transformation journey across safety, customer service, technology, engineering, network and human resources. Modern, efficient fleet is a fundamental component of this transformation. This order is an important step in realising Air India’s ambition, articulated in its Vihaan.AI transformation programme, to offer a world class proposition serving global travellers with an Indian heart.

“These new aircraft will modernise the airline’s fleet and onboard product, and dramatically expand its global network. The growth enabled by this order will also provide unparalleled career opportunities for Indian aviation professionals and catalyse accelerated development of the Indian aviation ecosystem.”

The first of the new aircraft will enter service in late 2023, with the bulk to arrive from mid-2025 onwards. In the interim, Air India has already started taking delivery of 11 leased B777 and 25 A320 aircraft to accelerate its fleet and network expansion.

“At long last, after many months of difficult negotiation, I’m delighted to finally share that Air India has signed letters of intent with Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GE Aerospace and CFM International for a fleet of brand-new aircraft,” said Air India CEO Campbell Wilson in a communication to the employees on Tuesday.

In addition to the 470 aircraft on firm order, Air India has secured a number of options and purchase rights.

“These give us the option, but not the obligation, to take additional aircraft at already-negotiated production slots and/or prices so that we can nimbly accommodate further growth and manage risk,” the CEO informed the employees.

The firm part of the order alone is not just the largest order ever made by an Indian airline, it is one of the largest single aircraft orders by any airline, anywhere, ever, and testifies to India’s unique combination of extraordinary scale and growth opportunity, Wilson said in the communication.

The acquisition of new aircraft, which will come with an entirely new cabin interior, complements Air India’s previously announced plan to refit its existing widebody B787 and B777 aircraft with new seats and inflight entertainment systems. The first of these refitted aircraft will enter service in mid-2024.

The Air India group currently comprises full-service Air India, as well as two low-cost subsidiaries — Air India Express and Air Asia India — which are in the process of merging.

Its parent, Tata Sons, recently announced its intention to merge Air India with full-service airline Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines in which the former holds 51 per cent share. In steady state, subject to regulatory approval, the group will comprise a single full-service airline, Air India, and a single low-cost airline, Air India Express.

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Air India issues Covid norms for flyers from UAE  

The recommendation advises that all visitors should preferably be completely immunized as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their country..reports Asian Lite News

Air India Express has issued guidelines for the maintenance of Covid-appropriate behaviour by travellers travelling from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India.

The recommendation advises that all visitors should preferably be completely immunized as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their country. Other precautions to take when travelling include the use of masks and physical distancing. “All guests should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their country. All guests should preferably use masks and follow physical distancing on flights/travel and at all points of entry,” the official Twitter handle of Air India Express tweeted.

The Air India Express, headquartered in Kochi, Kerala is notably, India’s first international budget carrier, offering connectivity to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It is run by Air India Express Limited, a fully-owned division of Air India, the national carrier of India.

However, the guidelines stated that Post-arrival random testing is not required for children under the age of 12.

The children are only required to undergo testing and get treatment in accordance with the protocol if they are discovered to be symptomatic for COVID-19 upon arrival or during the time of self-monitoring.

“Children under 12 years of age are exempted from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per the protocol,” the advisory by Air India Express read.

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Thursday said that at least two per cent of the arriving passengers on international flights to the country will have to undergo random sampling as part of a precautionary measure for Covid-19.

The MoCA in an official statement said that the passengers are to be identified by the airline and will be allowed to leave the airport after sample collection. Those being tested positive for the infection will be isolated and their samples will be sent for genome sequencing.

“This arrangement should come into practice with effect from 10:00 am on December 24,” as per the statement from MoCA .

Last week Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in Lok Sabha said that the government has started random RT-PCR sampling among the passengers arriving at International airports in the country amid the recent surge of Coronavirus infection in various countries including China, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States.

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also issued ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and said that the guidelines will be reviewed and revised from time to time.

Bharat Biotech’s intranasal Covid vaccine priced at Rs 800

Vaccine maker Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine for Covid-19, the first in the world, is scheduled to be introduced in the country as a booster dose shortly.

The vaccine, iNCOVACC (BBV154), is now available on CoWin, and priced at Rs 800 for private markets and Rs 325 for supplies to the Centre and state governments, the Hyderabad-based company said.

Last last month, Bharat Biotech received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for the use of heterologous booster doses of iNCOVACC.

It is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion-stabilised SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

This vaccine candidate was evaluated in phases I, II and III clinical trials with successful results, the company said.

iNCOVACC has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops. The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low- and middle-income countries, it added.

“We have achieved the goals we set for ourselves during this pandemic. We have developed COVAXIN and iNCOVACC, two Covid vaccines from two different platforms, with two different delivery systems. The vectored intranasal delivery platform gives us the capability for rapid product development, scale-up, easy and painless immunization during public health emergencies and pandemics,” said Bharat Biotech Executive Chairman Dr. Krishna Ella.

He thanked the Ministry of Health, CDSCO, Dept of Biotechnology, Govt of India, Technology Development Board, and Washington University, St Louis, for their support and guidance.

As a needle-less vaccination, Bharat Biotech’s iNCOVACC will be India’s first such booster dose.

India will now have more options when it comes to third doses or precautionary doses.

iNCOVACC’s manufacturing platform has the double benefit of enabling faster development of variant-specific vaccines and easy nasal delivery that enables mass immunization to protect from emerging variants of concern, the vaccine maker said.

Clinical trials were conducted to evaluate iNCOVACC as a primary dose schedule, and as heterologous booster dose for subjects who have previously received two doses of the two commonly administered COVID vaccines in India.

iNCOVACC was developed in partnership with Washington University, St. Louis, which had designed and developed the recombinant adenoviral vectored construct and evaluated in preclinical studies for efficacy.

Product development related to preclinical safety evaluation, large-scale manufacturing scale-up, formulation and delivery device development, including human clinical trials were conducted by Bharat Biotech.

Product development and clinical trials were funded in part by the Government of India, through the Department of Biotechnology’s, Covid Suraksha Program.

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Air India now most punctual airline

Air India.

The civil aviation regulator DGCA calculates on-time performance of scheduled domestic airlines at four metro airports including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai….reports Asian Lite News

Air India turned out to be the most punctual airline in October while Go First was at the bottom in the list of airlines with regard to on-time performance during the month.

As per data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, On-time performance of Air India flights was 90.8 per cent followed by Vistara and AirAsia recording on-time performance of 89.1 per cent during October.

Similarly, Indigo airline recorded an on-time performance of 87.5 per cent while Spicjet had an on-time performance of 68.9 per cent. Go First was at the bottom with on-time performance of 60.7 per cent during the month.

The civil aviation regulator DGCA calculates on-time performance of scheduled domestic airlines at four metro airports including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

As per DGCA, analysis disclosed that the majority of delays (nearly 68 per cent) were caused due to ‘Reactionary’ reasons.

Delay caused by late arrival of aircraft, crew, passengers or baggage from previous journeys come under Reactionary category.

So far as market share is concerned, Indigo flew ahead of other airlines during the October month with 56.7 per cent share in the domestic aviation sector.

Vistara airline secured second slot with a market share of 9.2 per cent.

As per the latest data, of the aviation regulator, Indigo carried 64.71 lakh air passengers during the month while Vistara carried 10.49 lakh air passengers.

As per the DGCA, passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-October 2022 were 9.88 crore as against 6.20 crore during the corresponding period of previous year thereby registering annual growth of 59.16 per cent and monthly growth of 26.95 per cent.

The data said, nearly 1.14 crore passengers were carried by the domestic airlines during October in the country as against 89.85 lakh during the same period last year.

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Air India expands global footprint

This expansion comes as the airline continues to make progress in augmenting its fleet with newly-leased aircraft, and the return of existing aircraft to active service….reports Asian Lite News

Air India on Wednesday announced the strengthening and expansion of its global footprint with the launch of new flights connecting Mumbai with New York, Paris and Frankfurt, and the resumption of non-stop flights connecting Delhi with Copenhagen, Milan and Vienna.

This expansion comes as the airline continues to make progress in augmenting its fleet with newly-leased aircraft, and the return of existing aircraft to active service.

The new Mumbai-New York service will operate daily at John F Kennedy International Airport using B777-200LR aircraft and will commence on February 14, 2023. It will complement Air India’s existing daily service from Delhi to the New York area’s John F Kennedy International Airport and four weekly flights to Newark Liberty airport, a statement said.

This takes Air India’s India-US frequency to 47 non-stop flights per week, the statement added.

To Europe, Air India will add four weekly Delhi-Milan routes starting from February 1, 2023, and thrice-weekly flights on each of Delhi-Vienna and Delhi-Copenhagen, commencing from February 18 and March 1, 2023, respectively.

From Mumbai, new flights are also planned to three weekly Paris and four weekly Frankfurt starting next quarter. All these flights will be operated by Air India’s B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft featuring 18 Business Class and 238 Economy Class seats. However, the schedule is yet to be decided.

With the resumption of these flights, Air India will serve seven cities in Europe with 79 weekly non-stop flights – 48 to the United Kingdom and 31 to Continental Europe, the statement said.

“A key element of our five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, is to strengthen India’s global network, connecting India’s major cities with even more destinations. The introduction of these new non-stop flights to New York, Milan, Vienna, Copenhagen, Paris and Frankfurt, is another step in that journey, which will accelerate as our aircraft fleet expands. We look forward to welcoming guests and sharing Air India’s warm Indian hospitality with them,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD of Air India.

Bookings for the new flights, except for Paris and Frankfurt, are now open. Paris and Frankfurt schedules, and the opening of bookings, will be announced separately. (ANI)

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Air India told to pay up $121.5 mn as refunds to flyers  

Air India.

TAP Air Portugal – $126.5 million in required refunds paid and a $1.1 million penalty…reports Asian Lite News

The US has ordered Air India to pay as much as $121.5 million as refunds to passengers due to the cancellation or change in flights, mostly during the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline has also been asked to cough up another $1.4 million as penalties on the delays in providing refunds.

The development comes as part of the US Department of Transportation’s crackdown on airlines that refuse to give customers refunds for cancelled flights.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on Monday announced that the department is assessing fines totalling $7.5 million against six airlines, and the DOT is ordering those airlines to pay $600 million in refunds to hundreds of thousands of customers.

The other airlines subject to Monday’s enforcement action are:

TAP Air Portugal – $126.5 million in required refunds paid and a $1.1 million penalty

Aeromexico – $13.6 million in required refunds paid and a $900,000 penalty

El Al – $61.9 million in required refunds paid and a $900,000 penalty

Avianca – $76.8 million in required refunds paid and a $750,000 penalty

“When a flight gets cancelled, passengers seeking refunds should be paid back promptly,” Buttigieg said. “Whenever that doesn’t happen, we will act to hold airlines accountable on behalf of American travelers and get passengers their money back.”

“A flight cancellation is frustrating enough and you shouldn’t also have to haggle or wait months to get your refund,” he said.

Airlines are required to pay customers refunds when a flight is cancelled for any reason, but often, in an effort to keep the cash, many airlines offer vouchers or credit for future travel instead of a refund.

Airlines’ refusal to give passengers their money back has become a huge source of consumer complaints, especially during the early days of the pandemic when almost no one was flying.

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Air India aims to re-establish itself

Over the next five years, Air India will strive to increase its market share to at least 30 per cent in the domestic market while significantly growing the international routes from the present market share…reports Asian Lite News

With a focus on five key pillars — exceptional customer experience, robust operations, industry-best talent, industry leadership, commercial efficiency — Air India on Thursday unveiled its comprehensive transformation plan.

The plan is called “Vihaan.AI”, which in Sanskrit signifies the dawn of a new era, with identified objectives for Air India over the next five years.

As part of Vihaan.AI, Air India has put into place a detailed roadmap with clear milestones focussing on dramatically growing both its network and fleet, developing a completely revamped customer proposition, improving reliability and on-time performance, and taking a leadership position in technology, sustainability, and innovation, while aggressively investing behind the best industry talent.

Over the next five years, Air India will strive to increase its market share to at least 30 per cent in the domestic market while significantly growing the international routes from the present market share.

The plan is aimed at putting Air India on a path to sustained growth, profitability and market leadership.

The carrier’s CEO, Campbell Wilson along with senior management members, unveiled the plan with the entire organization through Workplace, its virtual communication and engagement platform.

Over the coming days and weeks, the management team will engage employees across regions, departments, and locations through a series of physical and hybrid sessions.

While the immediate focus of the airline remains on fixing the basics and readying itself for growth (Taxiing Phase), the more medium-to-long term focus will be on building for excellence and establishing scale to become a global industry leader (Take Off & Climb phases).

Commenting on Vihaan.AI, Wilson said: “This is the beginning of a historic transformation for Air India, and the dawn of a new era. We are laying the foundation for a brave new Air India, with a renewed sense of purpose and incredible momentum. Vihaan.AI is our transformation plan to make Air India the world class airline it once was, and that it deserves to be again. We are absolutely focussed on being recognized as a world-class airline serving global customers, with a proudly Indian heart.

“The transformation has already started – a slew of initiatives in areas like refurbishing cabins, serviceable seats, in-flight entertainment systems are already underway. We are also adopting proactive maintenance and refining flight schedules to enhance on-time performance. Our fleet expansion will involve a combination of both narrow-bodied and wide-bodied aircrafts to cater to varied network needs. The excitement and shared commitment to drive Vihaan.ai is palpable across the organisation and stakeholders will recognise the changes as the new face of Air India emerges.”

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Air India expands its aircraft fleet

As per the airline, the B777-200LRs will join the fleet between December 2022 and March 2023, and will be deployed on routes from Indian metro cities to the United States of America…reports Asian Lite News

Aiming to augment its capacity, Air India has planned to induct 25 Airbus narrow-body and 5 Boeing wide-body aircraft in its existing fleet.

Air India has signed leases and letters of intent for 25 Airbus narrow-body and 5 Boeing wide-body aircraft which will enter service from late 2022, increasing the airline’s fleet by over 25 per cent.

Not counting the 10 long-grounded narrow-body and six wide-body aircraft that have been returned to service in recent months, these new aircraft mark the first major fleet expansion since Air India’s acquisition by the Tata Group earlier this year. The aircraft being leased include twenty-one Airbus A320neos, four Airbus A321neos and five Boeing B777-200LRs.

As per the airline, the B777-200LRs will join the fleet between December 2022 and March 2023, and will be deployed on routes from Indian metro cities to the United States of America. Mumbai will see the addition of flights to San Francisco as well as to both of the New York area’s international airports, Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy, while Bangalore will receive a 3x weekly service to San Francisco. These aircraft will result in Air India offering Premium Economy haul flights for the first time.

The four A321 aircraft are expected to join the Air India fleet in the first quarter of calendar year 2023, while the 21 A320 will be inducted in the second half of 2023. These aircraft will be deployed on domestic sectors as well as to short-haul international destinations, said an Air India spokesperson.

Commenting on the fleet expansion, Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director, Air India, said: “After a long time without significant growth, Air India is delighted to resume expanding its fleet and global footprint. These new aircraft, together with existing aircraft being returned to service, address an immediate need for more capacity and connectivity, and mark a strong step forward. Air India has exciting expansion and renewal plans, of which these new aircraft are just the beginning.”

Air India’s narrow-body fleet currently stands at 70 aircraft, of which 54 are in service; the remaining 16 aircraft will progressively return to service by early 2023. Similarly, Air India’s wide-body fleet currently stands at 43 aircraft, of which 33 are operational. The rest will return to service by early 2023.

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‘There are mountains to climb’

He said it was by not an easy decision to leave his current role as it was his first professional job and has been on it for the last 26 years…reports Asian Lite News

Campbell Wilson has said that his appointment as Air India CEO and MD is a fantastic opportunity to lead a historic airline, adding that there are “mountains to climb” in his new role.

Wilson is currently the CEO of Singapore Airlines’ subsidiary Scoot Air.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is a joint venture partner of Tata Group in full-service carrier Vistara.

“This afternoon I informed the executive team and your union leaders of my resignation from Scoot and the SIA Group,” he said to the employees to Scoot through a communique, which reportedly was his farewell letter.

He said it was by not an easy decision to leave his current role as it was his first professional job and has been on it for the last 26 years.

Wilson, who has 26 years long experience in the aviation industry, was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India earlier this week.

Air India would benefit from Wilson’s added experience of having built an airline brand in Asia, Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran had said.

Earlier, Turkish Airlines head Ilker Ayci had been appointed the Air India CEO by the Tatas, but he subsequently declined the offer on March 1.

Air India is at the cusp of an exciting journey to become one of the best airlines in the world, offering world-class products and services with a distinct customer experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality, said Wilson after announcement about his new role.

In January 2022, the Centre handed over the management control of national carrier Air India to a subsidiary of Tata Sons.

With this Air India’s strategic disinvestment was complete after the Centre received a consideration of Rs 2,700 crore from the ‘Strategic Partner’ — Talace — which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons.

Besides the upfront payment, Talace will retain a debt of Rs 15,300 crore.

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