What you've wished you could have done as you grind a way through crazy traffic is now a 2026 promise, which comes in the form of a collaboration between the parent company of India's largest airline and an American firm - backed by aircraft giant Boeing - that makes flying five-seaters.
The airline announced on April 19 that Tel Aviv flights would continue to be suspended until April 30. The suspension was later extended until May 15. After almost five months, the airline owned by the Tata group resumed flights to the city in Israel on March 3.
Passengers flying the 'Economy Comfort' and 'Comfort Plus' fare categories on Air India will be allowed to carry check-in baggage of 15 kg, the airline said in a notification to travel agents. ET has seen the notification. The new free baggage limit came into effect on Thursday. Tata Group took over Air India in 2022. Before privatisation, the airline used to offer a free baggage allowance of 25 kg, which was reduced to 20 kg last year.
A grouping of Air India Express cabin crew has alleged that the airline is being mismanaged and there is a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff. The airline is part of the Tata Group and is in the process of merging AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India with itself).
IndiGo plans to increase its international capacity deployment to 30 per cent with the introduction of longer-range aircraft, strategically leveraging hubs in major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Elbers also highlighted the growing passenger traffic from Central Asia to Thailand, with transit via India becoming increasingly popular.
The FIDS screens are strategically placed both inside and outside the airport terminal, providing real-time information on arrivals and departures. Additionally, prominent display boards within the departure and arrival areas offer timely updates. Airport staff, including those at the 'May I Help You' Desk, customer service representatives, guest relations executives, and Pranaam staff, will be available to assist passengers with any inquiries.
Prahlad Krishnamurthi, chief business officer at travel portal Cleartrip, said, "There is a clear preference for cooler destinations," coastal retreats such as Goa and emerging destinations like Port Blair. "The travel frenzy is at an all-time high this summer," he said. Shimla and Manali remain in demand, but travellers are also exploring other options in Himachal Pradesh, as well as Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
"The group is eager to complete the merger as soon as possible as it will unlock synergies and give multiple benefits in running more efficient operations. There are no ifs and buts. Both Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons want to complete the merger soon," one of the persons aware of the development, said.
"The development (IndiGo's A350 aircraft order) augurs well for the industry as these (international long haul) routes are comparatively more profitable and open up avenues for innovative combinations as Indian carriers have good domestic connectivity as well," Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director & Global Head, Transport, Mobility and Logistics - Consulting at CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, said on Friday.
Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju also restrained the resolution professional (RP) appointed under the insolvency law to manage the airline, and its directors from moving or taking away the planes or spare parts, documents, records and any other material. "DGCA shall forthwith and not later than five working days process the deregistration applications filed by the 54 aircrafts," the court said.
Capital A, which is led by mogul Tony Fernandes and includes a logistics business and digital payment Bigpay, said in January it would sell its budget airline AirAsia to its medium-haul affiliate AirAsia X. The deal announced on Friday will include another affiliate, AirAsia Aviation Group, in that sale.
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