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Tata Group to retain Air India's top management post-Vistara merger

The Tata Group is inclined to maintain continuity in Air India’s top management following its merger with Vistara, according to a report by The Economic Times. The report quoted sources as saying that all senior executives at Air India are expected to retain their positions post-merger. Campbell Wilson will continue as the chief executive officer, with Nipun Aggarwal and Sanjay Sharma remaining as the chief commercial and transformation officer, and chief financial officer, respectively, the report said. Meanwhile, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan is expected to return to Singapore Airlines (SIA), his parent company. Kannan had been on secondment to Vistara since 2019, serving as the chief strategy officer for the Tata Sons-SIA joint venture. Under the joint venture agreement, SIA had the right to appoint the CEO at Vistara, while the Tata Group selected its finance chief. Vistara’s Chief Commercial Officer, Deepak Rajawat, is expected to join the merged entity. Although the majority of Vistara employees will transition to the merged company, some positions may be eliminated due to redundancies, as Air India has already staffed those roles. Air India has been actively recruiting, drawing talent from other Tata Group companies and startups to overhaul the airline. This effort comes after Air India, previously under government control, accumulated losses exceeding Rs 15,000 crore before being acquired by the conglomerate. Additionally, some Vistara employees have already been reassigned to Air India. The report quoted a source as saying, “Vistara has been a terrific brand. The team has done a wonderful job but there is a greater purpose to maintain continuity in a larger entity.” A team comprising senior executives from Air India, Vistara, and the Boston Consulting Group is collaborating on human resources integration. Legal and regulatory compliance matters are being handled by the law firm AZB Partners, the report said. During the human integration process, Vistara’s non-flying staff has undergone the Hogan Test, designed by the US-based Hogan firm. This test assesses normal personality traits essential for job suitability, particularly in leadership roles. The Tata Group aims to quickly consolidate its airline business, which incurred a loss of Rs 15,532 crore in the financial year 2023, to leverage synergies, enhance efficiencies, and minimise redundancies. Air India Express and AirAsia India have merged to form a budget airline as part of the restructuring. The unified entity of Air India and Vistara will compete in the full-service segment. The conglomerate is striving to complete the Air India-Vistara integration by the end of this year. However, Air India CEO Wilson has indicated that customer-facing aspects, including Vistara’s brand identity, will remain unchanged until 2025. The report stated that this merger is also significant for Singapore Airlines, as its 25.1 per cent stake in the combined Tata airline entity will bolster its position in the world’s third-largest aviation market.

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Ashok Leyland bags single largest order for Viking bus from MSRTC for ₹982 cr

Ashok Leyland has bagged a single largest fully built bus order for 2,104 units of Viking passenger bus from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) valued at ₹982 crore. “These modern, fully built buses will be fully compliant with the latest CMVR standards, will feature AIS 153 compliant body, have the proven iGEN6 BS VI OBD II technology with 197 HP H-Series Engine and rear air suspension, among other significant features, the leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles said in a statement. MSRTC is one of the largest state transport undertakings in the country with more than 15,000 buses. With this order, Ashok Leyland buses will dominate its fleet. Company officials said that the buses would be manufactured at ALL plants in Alwar and Ennore and deliveries would start from August 2024.

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Air India Express introduces Xpress Holidays in coordination with Make My Trip

PUNE: Air India Express has introduced ‘Xpress Holidays’, a convenient platform that empowers travellers to book their entire vacation, including flights, accommodation, transport and activities, in one place, airline officials said on Monday. Powered by MakeMyTrip, this service offers exclusive deals, through the airline’s website. Extended offerings of ‘Xpress Holidays’ include access to end-to-end holiday packages, including cab pick-ups, sightseeing tours and experiences. 'Xpress Holidays' can be accessed from the Product and Services section on the Air India Express website and features fab deals on specially curated packages. The partnership with MakeMyTrip enables a variety of attractive packages to cater to different travel preferences. At an all-inclusive price starting from ₹15,876 per person, the Goa package includes a delightful stay at a 4-star hotel, round-trip flights, sightseeing, airport transfers, and meals for 3 nights and 4 days. For those seeking international adventures, the 'Dubai Super Saver Holiday package' starting from Rs. 44,357 per person is available for a memorable 4-night, 5-day experience, inclusive of round-trip flights, visa, accommodation, sightseeing tours, and selected meals. Various other exciting offers are also available on the website for all popular destinations, including those in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Kerala, Northeast, and Rajasthan. Speaking about Xpress Holidays, Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India Express, said, “We are delighted to extend the services on our website and mobile app to be a one-stop solution for all travel needs. With the launch of the all-encompassing ‘Xpress Holidays’, powered by MakeMyTrip, we are also enabling exclusive curated offers on flights and accommodations across India and our key international destinations, including airport transfers and guided tours.” Speaking about the collaboration, Saujanya Shrivastava, Chief Operating Officer - Flights, Holidays & Gulf at MakeMyTrip, said, “This partnership with Air India Express combines our collective strengths to make every travel booking experience seamless and comprehensive. We are excited to bring our bouquet of holiday packages and exclusive deals for Air India Express patrons to personalise and book alongside their flight tickets, backed by the MakeMyTrip fulfilment promise.” As part of this collaboration, MakeMyTrip will also host ‘Xpress Holidays’ on the holidays package page on the MakeMyTrip website, displaying curated deals with Air India Express flights. With the introduction of this service, Air India Express reiterates its commitment to innovation and guest satisfaction, aligning with its proposition of 'Fly As You Are,' enabling a smarter and more personalised travel experience.

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Scoot Enhances Travel to Paris Olympics with Member Airlines Mandating New Routes for Easy Trips

Scoot does not offer direct flights to Paris for the Paris Olympics 2024. Their current network primarily serves destinations within Asia and Australia, along with some long-haul flights to cities like Berlin and Athens, but no direct service to Paris has been announced. Scoot is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and is part of the Singapore Airlines Group, which includes Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and SIA Cargo. Scoot, a low-cost airline owned by Singapore Airlines, operates flights to a wide range of international destinations. Founded in 2011, Scoot has rapidly expanded its network to include over 60 destinations across Asia, Australia, and Europe, focusing on providing affordable travel options without compromising on quality and safety. Scoot operates a modern fleet consisting mainly of Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul flights and Airbus A320 family aircraft for short to medium-haul routes. Key destinations in Asia include major cities such as Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei, while in Australia, it serves Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. In Europe, Scoot flies to Berlin and Athens, connecting passengers to Paris through its partner airlines like Singapore Airlines. The airline benefits from its affiliation with the Singapore Airlines Group, offering seamless connections through Changi Airport and partnerships with other airlines for broader travel options. Despite being a low-cost carrier, Scoot enhances passenger experience with services like ScootPlus, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a variety of meal options. Scoot has been recognized for its safety measures, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest 5-star rating in the Skytrax COVID-19 Airline Safety Audit and Diamond status in the APEX Health Safety audit. Regular promotional fares and discounts make international travel more accessible, with recent sales offering significant savings to over 55 destinations. Additionally, Scoot has introduced new Embraer E190-E2 regional jets to its fleet to better serve short- to medium-haul routes and expand its network within Southeast Asia. Scoot offers flights to Paris through its member airline, Singapore Airlines, with connections from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). The typical routing involves flying from Singapore to European destinations like Frankfurt or Munich and then connecting to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

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Qantas starts non-stop flights between Paris and Perth

Qantas has launched services between Paris and Perth – the first time the Australian airline has operated to the French capital in 20 years. The non-stop service, which was first announced in October 2023, will initially operate four times per week to coincide with the Olympics in Paris, which starts on 26 July and runs until 11 August. Qantas will then reduce the frequency of the Perth-Paris route to three services per week from mid-August. The Australian airline already flies non-stop to Perth from both London Heathrow and Rome, as well as operating a Sydney-Heathrow service with a stop in Singapore. The new Paris route will add another 75,000 seats between Australia and Europe per year. Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said: “In recent years we have seen a significant increase in customers wanting to fly direct on long-haul routes and avoiding stop overs wherever possible. Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome have some of the highest customer satisfaction on our international network.” The flight between Perth and Paris takes around 17 hour and 20 minutes. Qantas is using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the route with a total of 236 seats across business, premium economy and economy cabins.

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Making Air Travel More Accessible And Affordable Is The Key Priority Of The Government: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that making air travel more accessible and affordable is the key priority of the government. He said, the government is making efforts to provide last-mile connectivity to air travellers. Speaking during the curtain raiser event of the second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference 2024 in New Delhi today, Mr. Naidu highlighted the initiatives taken by the government to build a robust infrastructure of civil aviation in the country. He said, sustainability must be at the core of the vision for the future of the aviation sector. He stressed adopting environmental friendly technologies to minimize carbon footprint and investing in green technologies to give new dimensions to the aviation sector. The second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 11th and 12th September, this year. During the conference, major aviation organizations, aviation leaders and other stakeholders will deliberate on the future of the civil aviation sector.

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