Air India's Delhi-Pune flyers spend two hours in plane after taxiing
The flight was supposed to take off from Delhi at 1.05pm and reach Pune at 3.20pm. It finally departed from the national capital around 3pm and landed in the city at 4.42pm.
Delhi's Anand Singh and his friend, Mohit Mahajan, came to Pune on the flight for a business meeting. Singh told TOI, "The boarding started at 12.05pm and we took our seats by 12.20pm. The aircraft, an Airbus A-320, started taxiing at 1pm and stopped behind two other aircraft for its turn to take off.
A little later, the pilot announced that they might have to turn around and head back to the bay because of a technical problem.
After some time, the aircraft indeed turned around and went to the bay."
You Can Also Check:
Pune AQI
|
Weather in Pune
|
Bank Holidays in Pune
|
Public Holidays in Pune
Mahajan said they expected some information from the pilot, but nothing came from the deck. "We had an important meeting in Pune, which we missed. Saturday being a weekend, we will have to wait till Monday for it now. We just kept sitting in the aircraft trying to get some inkling as to what was going on.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
The announcement that there was a technical issue left many passengers worried," he said.
TOI sent a detailed query about the incident to the Air India spokesperson. A reply was awaited till going to press.
Singh said a cabin crew member told him that additional fuel was being taken just in case of any problems because of the bad weather in Pune. "We anticipated that we would be deboarded and taken to the terminal building, but nothing of that sort happened. We just kept sitting in the plane," he said.
Mahajan said the airline should have anticipated this. "Even we knew that the weather in Pune was bad. The pilot, I am sure, knew it too. The additional fuel should have been taken earlier," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
13 minutes ago
- Mint
Adobe and Air India: Partnering for a Technology-First Transformation
Digital transformation is frequently discussed as a buzzword. For Air India, however, it is a pressing, holistic, systemic realisation. As part of the Tata Group, Air India is undergoing a monumental enterprise-wide reinvention across every process, platform, and person in the organisation. Central to this bold approach is Adobe, facilitating Air India to leapfrog old legacy constraints and become a data-driven, experience-first airline. In a fireside chat at Adobe SUMMIT India 2025, Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Air India, spoke with Prativa Mohapatra, Vice President and Managing Director of Adobe India, about how the transformation encompasses systems, scale, and human experience — and why Adobe's integrated approach has been pivotal in enabling this evolution. 'We had to change practically every single aspect of the airline,' Dr. Ramaswamy noted. With underinvestment having accumulated over decades, Air India's transformation had to start from zero and move fast. Four pillars now define the foundation: The single most important driver of the transformation is customer experience, and it spans three key arenas: On the ground (contact centres, airport touchpoints) (contact centres, airport touchpoints) In the air (onboard services, crew engagement) (onboard services, crew engagement) In cyberspace (digital channels including mobile, web, in-flight, chatbot, and APIs) Air India's six core customer-facing digital channels—its mobile app, website, notifications, AI.g chatbot, third-party APIs, and in-flight entertainment system—have all been overhauled. These are now tightly integrated into a seamless experience, largely enabled by Adobe's Experience Cloud suite. Air India has simplified their booking, check-in, departure, and inflight experience by integrating key Adobe Experience Cloud solutions with their own platforms. By utilizing Adobe solutions, Air India can ultimately provide just-in-time notifications and promotion across multiple channels, and they are constantly optimizing based on insights from Adobe Analytics. By integrating Adobe Experience Cloud with its existing platforms, Air India has enhanced key customer touchpoints, from booking and check-in to departure and onboard engagement. Just-in-time notifications and contextual promotions are now delivered across channels, continually refined using insights from Adobe Analytics. The airline has deployed AEM's headless capabilities for consistent content delivery across mobile and web; introduced over 20 user-centric features via Adobe Target; and used RT-CDP to unify customer interactions across devices and sources. Adobe Campaign further enables precise audience segmentation, while dynamic media ensures fast, high-quality content rendering. 2. Operational Excellence 'An airline is a moving business. Aircrafts, crew, customers—all shift every hour,' Dr. Ramaswamy said. Achieving operational efficiency requires precise, real-time coordination across: Crew and aircraft scheduling Flight planning and route optimisation Engineering and maintenance operations Air India's OTP (On-Time Performance) has become a core KPI that blends customer satisfaction with logistical execution. Adobe's analytics and integration tools play a key role in keeping systems and decisions aligned with dynamic, real-world conditions. To attract and retain top aviation talent, Air India invested heavily in employee empowerment tools. 'Our flying staff don't come to a central office. So, we had to create a digital headquarters in their pocket,' said Dr. Ramaswamy. 4. Commercial Performance Beyond experience, the transformation is also driving revenue. 'We want to maximise yield and increase our share of direct channel bookings,' he said. Selling through direct channels like the app or website incurs less cost than third-party systems, and Adobe's capabilities across content, campaign, and journey optimisation are central to this strategy. A recent feature—eZ Booking—lets users type natural language commands like 'Book me a ticket from Mumbai to Delhi tomorrow, return next Wednesday,' and get results instantly, reducing friction in the booking process. In May 2023, Air India launched AI.g—the first generative AI chatbot in the global airline industry. AI.g has since handled over 10 million customer queries with a containment rate of 97%—dramatically outperforming the industry average of 70% for legacy bots. Older bots needed extensive manual training to recognise every possible user query. AI.g, by contrast, reads context from structured documents. For instance, if a customer types, 'Can I bring my labrador on board?', AI.g understands the intent and refers to the airline's pet policy—responding in a conversational, helpful manner that adjusts for the breed's size, weight restrictions, and cargo requirements. 'This tool saves millions of dollars each year,' said Dr. Ramaswamy. 'And more importantly, it improves the experience.' While GenAI has revolutionised customer support, agentic AI is redefining how decisions get made and work gets done. Unlike traditional systems that require API connections or robotic process automation (RPA), agentic systems can interface directly with people, sending emails, interpreting responses, and autonomously completing tasks. A standout use case is refund processing for downgraded tickets. Previously handled manually and taking up to four weeks, this process is now almost fully automated for category of such cases using agentic AI. The system evaluates cases, proposes actions, and requires only final human validation, reducing refund cycles to one day. Agentic AI also brings powerful reasoning capabilities. It can explain its decisions step-by-step: identifying the customer's issue, mapping it to policy categories, applying rules, and justifying the response. This kind of logic-based transparency builds trust internally and externally. 'Marketing has always been a guessing game,' said Dr. Ramaswamy. 'With agentic AI, we stop guessing.' Air India is now developing customer-specific AI agents that function as digital twins—learning preferences, habits, and purchase patterns over time. Auto check-in passengers Flag delay-based rebookings Suggest hyper-relevant deals Approve marketing messages on behalf of the user 'Your AI agent knows what kind of fare you're looking for, when you want to travel, and what matters to you. So instead of us targeting you directly, we market to your agent. If it trusts the offer, it passes it on.' This approach transforms word-of-mouth into digital word-of-agent—a more trusted, accurate, and effective marketing channel. This transformation has been driven by close coordination across Adobe teams—Ultimate Success, Consulting Services, Solution Consulting, and Account Executives—all aligned with Air India's business goals and committed to delivering measurable outcomes. Adobe has been deeply embedded in Air India's journey from day one. 'They don't just deliver tools—they're passionate about our success,' said Dr. Ramaswamy. From Experience Manager to Campaign, Journey Optimiser, Analytics, and the Real-Time Customer Data Platform, Adobe provides a unified digital infrastructure that connects every piece of Air India's transformation puzzle. 'Shantanu Narayen, Anil Chakravarthy, and the entire Adobe leadership have been backing us. We work like one team, one mission.' This shared vision was globally recognised when Air India was honoured as the 2025 Adobe Experience Maker of the Year, a first for any Indian airline, and a testament to what bold ambition and deep collaboration can achieve. With 140+ systems rebuilt in under two years, new digital channels deployed, a first-of-its-kind GenAI chatbot in production, and the early implementation of agentic AI, Air India is not just transforming—it is setting a new global standard. Adobe's technology and co-innovation model has enabled this unprecedented pace and precision. And the result? A smarter airline. A more responsive experience. And a blueprint for what enterprise transformation truly looks like when tech, leadership, and purpose are aligned. This fireside chat between Dr. Satya Ramaswamy and Prativa Mohapatra was part of Adobe SUMMIT India 2025, where India's boldest digital transformation stories came to life on stage. Note to the Reader: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times.
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
UAE to increase card fees for foreign transactions: Here's how expats can avoid extra charges
UAE expats may face higher charges on international card use starting September/ Representative Image TL;DR From Sept 22, UAE banks will raise fees on international card use to 3.14%, impacting travel and global online purchases. Expats sending money home or spending abroad will see higher charges on every swipe. There are ways to reduce costs, but only if you know where to look. Living in the UAE often means your life spans borders, you earn dirhams here, but spend and support back home or elsewhere. Whether it's booking flights, sending gifts to family, or shopping online in another currency, using your UAE-issued card is part of the routine. But from September 22, that routine gets more expensive. Several UAE banks are updating their international transaction fees. The charge on every card (debit and credit cards) purchase or ATM withdrawal made outside the country, or in a foreign currency, will rise to 3.14%, up from the current 2.09%. That's a full percentage point higher than what most expats currently pay. For many, that's not just a one-off charge, it's a recurring cost on everything from remittance-related services to travel spending. Why This Matters to Expats More Than Most For UAE Expats, international spending is about to get more expensive. This fee hike might seem like a small number on paper, but over time, it hits harder for expats who regularly: Book flights for family visits Use UAE cards for school fees abroad Shop online in foreign currencies Send money via platforms that use card payments Withdraw cash while travelling or visiting home If you're sending AED 3,000 to a relative using a platform that charges your card in dollars, expect to lose AED 94.20 to card fees alone. It adds up. What's Behind the Fee Increase? The 3.14% charge includes two parts: 1% – taken by global card networks like Visa or Mastercard for currency conversion 2.14% – added by your local bank as a processing fee These rates aren't new globally, but the adjustment brings UAE fees closer in line with international benchmarks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cargo Ship Meets Pirates - Watch What the Captain Does Next! Tips and Tricks Undo Banks say the change reflects rising operational costs. But for cardholders, especially expats managing cross-border expenses, it just means more money out the door. How You Can Cut Down on These Charges While you might not be able to avoid the new fees entirely, here are ways to spend smarter: Use multicurrency cards or wallets: Some UAE fintech platforms offer prepaid travel cards where you can lock in exchange rates and avoid foreign fees. These are handy for frequent travellers or expats who split time between countries. Choose the right bank card: Some premium credit cards in the UAE waive international transaction fees, but you'll need to check eligibility, as they often require a higher income or annual fee. Avoid paying in AED abroad: At stores or ATMs overseas, always choose to pay in the local currency. Opting for AED might seem easier but usually costs more due to poor exchange rates and hidden charges (known as Dynamic Currency Conversion or DCC). Reduce card-based remittances: If you're using cards for cross-border payments, look into direct bank transfers or licensed exchange houses with lower overall fees. What's Coming Next? There's talk of a UAE-based payment alternative, Jaywan, going global later this year. It's designed to offer smoother and possibly cheaper international transactions. But for now, it's still in early stages and doesn't solve the immediate cost hike facing expats in 2025. FAQs 1. Will this impact online purchases from abroad? Yes. Any time your card is charged in a non-dirham currency, including international websites, the 3.14% fee will apply. 2. Are debit cards affected too? Yes. Both debit and credit cards from most UAE banks will carry this new fee structure. 3. What if I use a UAE exchange house or transfer app? It depends. If the app charges your card in a foreign currency, you'll still pay the fee. Direct bank transfers are usually a safer bet.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Sudha Murty Shines Light on Leh Palace: Why This 17th-Century Wonder in Ladakh Deserves a Spot on Your Travel List
While most of Leh itineraries include adventure activities and sleeping under the stars and bike trips, people often miss out on mentioning Leh Palace. The forgotten gem tucked away in the mountains echoes tales of a once-flourishing Himalayan dynasty. The 17-century palace is an architectural wonder and is doing rounds on social media thanks to the recently received a heartfelt love from author and philanthropist Sudha Murty . Calling it 'very peaceful' and 'beautiful,' she wrote on X, 'Leh Palace, an impressive 17th-century royal residence, stands proudly in Ladakh. It was constructed by King Sengge Namgyal and takes its architectural cues from the iconic Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Today, it has been transformed into a captivating museum, showcasing a remarkable collection of artifacts, intricate paintings and ancient scriptures. ' Let's have a closer look at the palace: Leh Palace is a hidden treasure offering a glimpse into Leh's golden past. The palace was built in the 17th century by Sengge Namgyal and served as the royal residence of the Namgyal dynasty. This kingdom ruled the mountains for centuries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pune: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo A look at the palace and you'll be able to tell that its architecture is inspired by the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. In an interview, Sudha Murty said, 'People usually go to Leh and Ladakh and visit Pangong Lake. But there is a beautiful palace there. The king and queen of Ladakh still live there. That palace is more than 300 years old. Not many know about it. It is very peaceful. I liked that very much.' Her words are inspiring. She urged travellers to look beyond famous attractions and just focus on the lesser-known gems waiting to be discovered. Today, the Leh Palace might look a little worn-off, its grandeur is still conspicuous. Once here, you'll immediately be transported to the bygone era. The dimly-lit corridors and wooden balconies add to the whole experience. What to Expect The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains the Leh Palace. As of now, the palace is partially restored and public is allowed despite much of the original palace in ruins. Here you can visit: Museum which showcases ancient murals, royal costumes, and weapons. You can enjoy gorgeous views of the Leh town and the Stok Kangri peak from the upper floors How to Reach By Air : The nearest airport serving the palace is the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh. It is about 5 km from the city center and is located just above the Leh Bazaar region. It's an easy hike but taxis are also available. Best Time to Visit The months between May and September are considered the best time to explore Leh Palace. Perfect for exploration and photography! This is also the time when roads are snow free and accessible. Tips Carry comfortable mountain shoes. It's advisable to hire a local guide. So, if you're planning a trip to Leh-Ladakh in the coming time, make sure you add Leh Palace to your itinerary for an exclusive offbeat experience.
