We are already a global airline, carry the national name and are set to order more planes: Air India CEO
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, 54, has a lot on his plate as he attends the International Air Transport Association (IATA) AGM and woos the international airlines – some of which see the Tata-Singapore Airlines-backed carrier as a threat as well as an opportunity. In an exclusive interview with ET Prime, Wilson spoke about the plan to order more planes for the first time, employee layoffs, capacity expansion, the impact the Pakistan airspace ban
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Air India enters 4 new interline partnerships for greater access to Europe and Central Asia
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): Air India, India's leading global airline, on Tuesday announced that it has entered interline partnerships with four major airlines from emerging markets, significantly enhancing connectivity to Europe, particularly the Baltic region and parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The partnerships will provide Air India guests seamless travel options to 16 more destinations across 6 countries in these regions while making India easier to access for the passengers of the respective partner airlines, the company said in a release. Air India signed these interline agreements with Airbaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways on the sidelines of the ongoing 81st IATA AGM in New Delhi, it said. The new partnerships further strengthen Air India's position as a global connector, enabling a passenger to travel across continents with a single-ticket itinerary that combines Air India flights with those of its partner airlines as well as coordinated baggage allowance & handling. The airline, airBaltic, provides access to Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Vilnius (Lithuania) via Air India's European gateways at Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Milan-Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, or Dubai. Bulgaria Air provides access to Sofia via Air India's gateways at London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, and Tel Aviv, supporting travel to the vibrant Eastern European city. Air India guests can also make further connections from Sofia to other Bulgarian cities such as Varna and Burgas. Cyprus Airways provides access to Larnaca (Cyprus) via Air India's European gateways at Paris, Milan, and Dubai, opening one of the Mediterranean's key cultural and economic hubs for Indian travellers. Uzbekistan Airways provides access to Tashkent from Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa-Mopa (GOX), as well as further onward connections from Tashkent to Bukhara, Qarshi, Nukus, Urgench, Termez, Samarkand, Fergana, and Namangan. Conversely, Air India will provide convenient access to more than 30 Indian cities to the customers of its four artner airlines, including but not limited to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi, the release added. 'These four new interline partnerships significantly enhance Air India's global reach and open seamless pathways to vibrant cities across some of the most important emerging markets of today,' said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. 'Our partnerships with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways, bring more travel options and smoother journeys for our growing base of customers worldwide as well as reinforce India's rising status as a key global aviation hub.' (ANI)
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
India should open way for developing nations: WTO
PARIS: While acknowledging unprecedented disruption of multilateral trading system, WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Tuesday raised the issue of China-backed investment facilitation. While India is opposing this, Okonjo-Iweala wants New Delhi to support the move. "We spoke about issues of reform, about issues that India is interested in, like agriculture and how India needs to be a leader for MC 14 (next year's ministerial meeting)... India needs to open the way for other developing countries, for example, on investment facilitation for development, we want it to support, because so many developing countries, 90 out of the 126, who are members, would like to move with this. But for agriculture, we also need to listen to what India's issues are and try to be as supportive as possible," she said after a meeting with commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal. India had virtually single-handedly blocked attempts to include investment facilitation as a plurilateral matter under the WTO framework. The comments came ahead of the mini-ministerial meeting of trade ministers later Tuesday. WTO chief said the issue of reform is expected to come up for discussion, at a time when multilateral trading system has been "disrupted in a way it hasn't been before". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Durable Perforated Stainless Steel Sheets Online – Trusted Suppliers Stainless Steel Sheets | Search ADS Search Now Undo "Sometimes I see challenges as opportunities, and I think this is a very good opportunity for WTO members to look at what are those things that work and should be kept and there are many. For example, three quarters of world goods trade is still taking place on WTO terms, on MFN terms and members want to safeguard that," she said. She said that each member will put their ideas on the table, paving the way for discussions at the next year's ministerial meeting. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
From Public to Private: All You Need to Know about Privatization of PSUs
PSUs or Public Sector undertakings have been making the headlines in recent years. The Indian government has been majorly focusing on PSUs. With an aim to boost the Indian economy's growth, improve efficiency, and reduce the financial burden on the state, the government has taken significant steps to transfer ownership of key PSUs to private hands. Some well-known examples of privatization include the LIC sale, Air India privatization, and the proposed BPCL disinvestment. These moves are part of larger economic reforms that aim to increase Indian economy growth by involving the private sector in areas previously controlled by the government. Let us understand the meaning of privatization and how it will affect us. What is Privatization? To begin with, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are companies owned and run by the government. PSUs Privatization means transferring the ownership and management of government-owned companies (PSUs) to private players. These PSUs were originally set up to serve the public interest and promote industrial growth and create employment. However, over time, many of them started facing issues like inefficiency, low profits, and poor management. To tackle this, the government started a disinvestment strategy, where it either sells a part or full stake in these companies. When more than 51% stake is sold, the company becomes privately owned and this is what we call privatization. Major Companies That Are a Part of The Privatization Move LIC - Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is one of the largest and oldest insurance companies in India. In 2022, the government sold a part of LIC's shares to the public through an IPO (Initial Public Offering). This was a big step as LIC had always been a fully government-owned company. The LIC sale aimed to raise money for the government and increase transparency and accountability. Air India - Air India has been the pride of our country but not many knew that this airline was running at a loss for many years. That's when the Indian Government sold it to the Tata Group, the same company that originally founded it. This Air India privatization was seen as a necessary move to stop the airline from draining public funds and to improve its services through private sector expertise. BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited) - BPCL disinvestment has been a key agenda for the government. The plan involves selling the majority stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, one of India's top oil marketing companies. The privatization of BPCL is expected to bring in large revenues for the government and improve operational efficiency. Why is The Government Privatizing PSUs? Improve economy - Privatization can bring in investment and create more job opportunities. Reducing the burden from the government - Many PSUs are making losses, and the government spends a lot of money to keep them running. Privatization can help the government from these losses. To raise funds: Selling PSUs helps the government earn money, which it can use for development projects and infrastructure. The Role of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Apart from full privatization, the government also uses the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. In this, both the public and private sectors work together to provide services or build infrastructure. This helps combine public sector goals with private sector efficiency. For example, several roads, airports, and hospitals in India have been developed using the PPP model. This model allows the government to provide better services without bearing the entire cost or risk. PSUs have been a major part of the Indian economy. But since the past few years, the government has faced several challenges to maintain them. The privatization of PSUs, including the LIC sale, Air India privatization and many others have majorly contributed to the growth of the Indian economy. So, is Privatization of PSUs a good decision? The simple answer to this would be – If it benefits both the economy as well as people then it is good.
