235 million brace for weekend winter weather; Travel disruptions inevitable
More than 8000 flights canceled; Air India cancels New York, Newark flights
DALLAS/ NEW YORK (TIP): Freezing rain fell in parts of Texas on Friday , January 23, as a huge, days long winter storm began a trek that threatened to bring snow, sleet, ice, bone-chilling temperatures and extensive power outages to about half the US population. Forecasters warned that catastrophic damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival that of a hurricane.
Schools in Chicago and other Midwestern cities called off classes, airlines cancelled thousands of weekend flights, churches moved Sunday services online and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to hold its Saturday night radio performance without fans. Carnival parades in Louisiana were cancelled or rescheduled.
At least 182 million people were under watches or warnings for ice and snow, and more than 210 million were under cold weather advisories or warnings. In many places those overlapped.
Utility companies braced for power outages because ice-coated trees and power lines can keep falling long after a storm has passed.
“It’s going to be a big storm,” Maricela Resendiz said as she picked up chicken, eggs and pizzas at a Dallas store to get her, her 5-year-old son and her boyfriend through the weekend. Her plans: “Staying in, just being out of the way.”
Freezing rain slickened roads in Lubbock, Texas, in the afternoon as temperatures dropped.
After sliding into the South, the storm was expected to move into the Northeast, dumping about a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, the National Weather Service predicted.
Arctic air was the first piece to fall in place
Frigid air that spilled down from Canada prompted the cancellations of classes at schools throughout the Midwest. Wind chills as low as minus 40°F (minus 40 Celsius) meant that frostbite could set in within 10 minutes, making it too dangerous to walk to school or wait for the bus.
Despite the bitter cold, a protest over an immigration crackdown went on as planned in Minnesota, with thousands demonstrating in downtown Minneapolis.
Nationwide, more than 1,000 flights were delayed or cancelled Friday, with well over half of them in Dallas, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. About 2,300 were called off for Saturday.
In Oklahoma, Department of Transportation workers treated roads with salt brine, the Highway Patrol cancelled troopers’ days off and National Guard units were activated to help stranded drivers.
The federal government put nearly 30 search and rescue teams on standby. Officials had more than 7 million meals, 600,000 blankets and 300 generators placed throughout the area the storm was expected to cross, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
President Donald Trump said via social media that his administration was coordinating with state and local officials and “FEMA is fully prepared to respond.” Ice could take down power lines and pipes could freeze After the storm passes, it will take a while to thaw out. Ice can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and branches and make them more susceptible to snapping, especially if it’s windy. In at least 11 Southern states from Texas to Virginia, a majority of homes are heated by electricity, according to the US Census Bureau.
A severe cold snap five years ago took down much of the power grid in Texas, leaving millions without power for days and resulting in hundreds of deaths. Gov Greg Abbott vowed that it will not happen again, and utility companies were bringing in thousands of employees to help keep the lights on.
Northeast braces for possibly heaviest snow in years
Boston declared a cold emergency through the weekend, and Connecticut was working with neighboring New York and Massachusetts in case travel restrictions are needed on major highways.
Connecticut Gov Ned Lamont urged people to go grocery shopping now and “stay home on Sunday.”
Philadelphia announced schools would be closed Monday. Superintendent Tony B Watlington Sr told students, “It’s also appropriate to have one or two very safe snowball fights.”
(Agencies)
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) USA hosted a remarkable celebration on Saturday, June 21, at the iconic Village East by Angelika theater in Manhattan, marking the screening of “The Renaissance Man”, a documentary film chronicling the inspiring life and legacy of Vivek Tankha. The event was part of the New York Indian Film Festival and drew an enthusiastic audience, including senior leaders of IOC-USA and distinguished members of the Indian diaspora.
The documentary highlights the extraordinary journey of Shri Vivek Tankha ji —Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India, former Additional Solicitor General, sitting Rajya Sabha MP, and a dedicated humanitarian. His contributions span multiple sectors, including public interest litigation, tribal healthcare, education, disability rights, and disaster relief. The film captures both his legal brilliance and his compassionate leadership, especially through his widely acclaimed initiative “Rahat”, which has provided critical medical and disaster aid to marginalized communities in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and beyond.
Photos of documentary viewing of film “ The Renaissance Man: Life and Times of Vivek Tankha” at the New York Film festival on June 21, 2025. showing Shri Vivek Tankha ji (sitting in center) responding to questions from the audience.
During the post-screening interaction, Mr. Tankha shared powerful insights into his motivations and lifelong mission to use law and public service as instruments for justice and upliftment. He spoke of landmark cases, including his pivotal legal work for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims, and emphasized the need for ethical and empathetic leadership in contemporary India.
The event was held under the leadership of Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of the Indian Overseas Congress USA, who opened the celebration with high praise for Mr. Tankha.
“If even one percent of India’s population embodied the intellect, integrity, and compassion of Vivek Tankha,” said Mr. Gilzian, “India would be a different country. His life offers a blueprint for the kind of leadership our nation urgently needs.”
Adding to the evening’s grace and significance, Mr. Sam Pitroda, Global Chairman of Overseas Congress Department of A.I.C.C., sent a heartfelt video message applauding Mr. Tankha’s decades of service in law, policy, and social reform.
“Vivek is not just a legal scholar; he’s a people’s advocate. His work touches lives where it matters most,” Mr. Pitroda said.
The celebration was inaugurated with an inspiring and powerful opening remarks by Harbachan Singh, Secretary-General of IOC-USA, who recognized very highly Mr. Tankha’s awesome enduring legacy of justice and social responsibility. He likened all the solid attributes of Shri Vivek Tankha ji to those of Mahatmas and Heros and made a moving equation of his personality and service to them. Mr. Tankha embodied humility, softness and a profound depth of knowledge and human experience which has drawn crowds of people to him in total acceptance of him as no less than acclaimed Mahatmas and Heros.
The screening was more than a celebration of an individual—it was a tribute to a life of purpose, service, and vision. It resonated as a rallying call to the Indian diaspora to identify, support, and champion leaders like Vivek Tankha, whose integrity and impact go far beyond the boundaries of law and politics.
The event was graced by a wide array of IOC-USA leaders who honored Mr. Tankha with a bouquet and a traditional shawl, a symbolic gesture of respect and admiration. Among the IOC USA senior leaders present were: Working President (North East Zone) Pradeep Samala; Vice President John Joseph: Vice President Baldev Randhawa; General Secretaries; Sharath Chandra, Sophia Sharma and Rajeev Mohan; President of Maryland Chapter Chaudhry Pratap Singh; President of Andhra Chapter Srinivasrao Bhimineni; Chairman of the Punjab Chapter; Phuman SinghIbrahimpur; Secretary, IOC.USA Jaswinder Singh Kang and his team; Dr.Yogesh Dayma from Boston: Rockland Chapter President Shaimi Jacob: Amanpreet Aman and Mukesh (Mike) from New Jersey: Patel Sridhar Reddy from Telengana Chapter Detroit: Harpreet Singh Happy and Sunny Singh: Harvendar Singh and Qayam Masumi representing the New Jersey Chapter, among others.
In addition, several local IOC-USA leaders, business professionals, lawyers, dignitaries, activists, and scholars from across the United States traveled to New York to attend the event and personally extend their congratulations to Mr. Tankha.
The event concluded with a vibrant Q&A session, where attendees engaged with Mr. Tankha on a range of topics—from his legal battles and legislative work in Parliament to his grassroots efforts for the underprivileged and youth empowerment.
The screening was more than a celebration of an individual—it was a tribute to a life of purpose, service, and vision. It resonated as a rallying call to the Indian diaspora to identify, support, and champion leaders like Vivek Tankha, whose integrity and impact go far beyond the boundaries of law and politics.
At the reception, Secretary General Harbachan Singh led with the award of a Proclamation of Honor by Shri Vivek Tankha ji and Mohinder Singh ji to Attorney Jaspreet Singh in appreciation of his outstanding leadership, benevolent services and support of the community.
Following the above, Harbachan Singh requested the entire gathering to rise in solemn observance of a moment of silence in condolence and sympathy of the victims of the recent Air India airplane crash and sharing the sorrow and pain with the aggrieved families. Similar solemn observance was also observed to grief the sudden, shocking and painful to bear demise of the brother of Shri Vivek Tankha ji in India the day before this event accelerating the swift return to India of Mr. Vivek Tankha ji. May all the departed souls Rest in Peace! by the grace of Almighty God.
A lot has been said and written about air disasters in general, and the recent crash of AI 171, a flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick (London), in particular. The flight was carrying 169 Indians, 53 Britons and seven Portuguese nationals in addition to a lone Canadian (a woman dentist).
The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad International Airport.
Going by the Aviation Safety Network database, it was the first crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft. It is not only Air India, the national flag carrier of India, that has Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in its fleet; Air Canada has eight Boeing 787-8 aircraft in its fleet and 32 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Another Canadian carrier, WestJet, has seven Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in its fleet.
Incidentally, the ill-fated Air India Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad, one of the eight Indian airports maintained by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL). Of late, the Indian aviation industry has quickly moved from the public sector to the public-private sector mode. These are not only the airports, but also the airlines that have witnessed a change in management and control. Air India was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022.
Though the civil aviation sector has witnessed phenomenal growth in India, issues related to safety have at times been compromised.
But has the growth of the aviation industry been supplemented by the trained staff, including pilots, cabin crew and ground staff? Both Indigo and Air India have been announcing their ambitious plans to expand their fleet. But are they getting a sufficient number of trained and experienced pilots to operate the new, sophisticated and technologically advanced aircraft?
The issue was highlighted in one of my latest blogs, reproduced below:
“Who is killing civilian pilots?”
The death of a promising Air India pilot earlier this month (April) has set in motion an animated debate about the health and well-being of pilots employed by national and international airlines. Did Captain Arman Singh Chaudhary have his promising career cut short due to the non-implementation of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL)?
Captain Arman Singh Chaudhary, an Air India Express pilot, reportedly died of a cardiac arrest shortly after landing a Srinagar – Delhi flight earlier this month.
His death was not an isolated incident of its kind. There had been instances when pilots had died in distress while on duty. In August 2023, an IndiGo pilot, Manoj Balasubramanian, fell unconscious while on duty at Nagpur airport and passed away soon after. “He took ill at Nagpur airport and was rushed to the hospital where he unfortunately passed away,” Indigo Airlines had said in a statement on August 17, 2023.
A substantial percentage of air disasters are blamed on “human factors” or human failures. “Fatigue” or “overload” on pilots who fly more than the stipulations is equally important causes of air accidents.
“Fatigue” or long hours at the wheel used to be the major factor for devastating accidents on roads, as poorly paid truck and bus drivers would doze off while at the wheel, leading to huge losses of human lives. Now, the same “fatigue” factor has come to worry the aviation sector.
The deaths of pilots have been sending alarming signs for a long time. Intriguingly, little or no serious attention is paid to such “unnatural deaths” of an extremely scarce trained manpower. The question being asked in aviation circles is: How many pilots have lost their lives due to the non-implementation of FDTL rules as per standards of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)?
Pilot FDTL Rules are designed in favor of corporate airlines so that they can make more money at the expense of pilots. Since the issue has been a subject of judicial adjudication, there is a court direction that the new FDTL rules be implemented in a phased manner from July 1. The airlines, as the reports indicate, are reluctant to implement these directions as they would be forced to employ more and more pilots.
Trained and experienced individuals are an asset for any airline. Though they are highly paid but they always carry a huge responsibility on their shoulders by flying hundreds of passengers across different destinations day in and day out.
Pilots are assets as they are heavily paid. If civil aviation is considered one of the safest modes of travel or communication, it is because of the competence of pilots.
Under the present rules, a commercial pilot is not supposed to travel more than 35 hours a week. But revenue crazy airlines are expanding their operations by flouting the FDTL regulations with impunity.
The Pilots’ associations have been seeking the intervention of the courts. The corporate houses, as major airlines in India are, just want profits and profits. Their appetite for more and more revenue is not getting satiated.
While airlines want their cake to grow bigger, pilots are getting rubbed on the wrong side.. Prima facie, fatigue is killing pilots as they are overworked.
Though the Director-General of Civil Aviation has ordered an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of a young and bright pilot, Capt. Arman Singh Chaudhary. According to reports, he wanted to report on the fateful flight. But his plea was turned down, and he was made to fly. All these things are expected to come out when the Inquiry Committee set up by the Director-General of Civil Aviation comes out with its report in its stipulated six months.
The aviation industry has its issues and problems. While the managements want more and more revenue, the deserved attention to the well-being and health of the crew and other stakeholders is compromised. This is supported by a statement made at a FAA symposium in 2016.
“It has been estimated that 4-7% of civil aviation incidents and accidents can be attributed to fatigued pilots. “In the last 16 years, fatigue has been associated with 250 fatalities in air carrier accidents.” Robert Sumwalt, NTSB vice chairman, said at an FAA symposium in July 2016.
The ball is now in the court of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation as well as its front agency, the Director-General of Civil Aviation.
Fingers have also been raised at the growing control of the private sector not only for the operation, management and development of airports but also on sensitive issues like security and safety of air travel. Some big players already have their own security teams in operational mode at important airports that are generally under the operational, management and maintenance control of private players. The role of the state agencies, including paramilitary forces, has been marginalized.
Introduction of multiple layers of security has also been reportedly responsible for the growing incidence of “conflict of interest” between private agencies and the state paramilitary agencies. While the personnel of the State paramilitary forces are deployed at airports with proper training, the same cannot be said of the private agencies engaged by the private players given the mandate to operate, maintain and manage important airports.
Going by its website, the Adani Group (AAHL) claims that it made its maiden venture into the airports sector by emerging as the highest bidder for the operation, management, and development of six airports: Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangalore, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram. It signed concession agreements with the Airports Authority of India for all six airports.
AAHL also holds a 73% stake in Mumbai International Airport Ltd, which in turn holds a 74% stake in Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd. With eight airports in its management and development portfolio, AAHL is India’s largest airport infrastructure company, accounting for 25% of passenger footfalls and 33% of India’s air cargo traffic.
“The Adani Group is committed to offering best-in-class airport infrastructure to passengers, ensuring a seamless and secure airport experience. Through Adani Airports, it envisions redefining the city-airport relationship by building shared facilities that cater to the ever-evolving global travel, lifestyle, and work requirements,” claims the website.
Other than airports, the most important component of the aviation sector is the airlines. The government-run or public sector airlines no longer hold sway. At present, the biggest player is Indigo as it has become one of the fastest-growing low-cost carriers in the world and the largest airline in India. Its success has been attributed to its unique business model, which reduces costs. According to Wikipedia, it operates a single type of aircraft, the Airbus A320 family, in a similar seating configuration, which simplifies crew training and maintenance. The airline strikes bulk deals with Airbus, reducing unit costs. The airline targets a quick, 20-minute turnaround time to prepare the aircraft for the next flight, ensuring planes fly about 12 hours per day. Employees share multiple roles, with a check-in staff doubling as baggage handlers.
In July 2023, the Indian aviation controlling authority Directorate General of Civil Aviation, imposed a fine of ₹30 lakh (US$35,000) on IndiGo for certain systemic deficiencies concerning documentation pertaining to operations, training, and engineering procedures. In March 2025, the Income Tax Department imposed a penalty of ₹944.20 crore (US$110 million) on InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo’s parent company, for the assessment year 2021-22.
With headquarters in Gurugram, Indigo has become the largest airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size, with a 64.1% domestic market share as of April 2025. It is the second largest Asian airline and one of the largest in the world in terms of passengers carried, with more than 31.9 million passengers carried in the fourth quarter of 2025. As of June 2025, IndiGo operates over 2,200 daily flights to 127 destinations – 91 domestic and 36 international. It operates cargo services under its subsidiary, IndiGo CarGo. Its primary hub is at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. Its turnover is now touching 90,000 crore with a net profit after taxes past 8,000 crore.
Established as a private company by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises—an Indian multinational conglomerate based in Gurugram— and Rakesh Gangwal in 2005. It took delivery of its first aircraft in July 2006 and commenced operations a month later, on August 4, 2006. The airline became the largest Indian carrier by passenger market share in December 2012. The company went public in October 2015.
Air India is the flag carrier of India with its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and secondary hubs at Kempe Gowda International Airport in Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, alongside several focus cities across India. Headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, India, the airline is owned by Air India Limited, which is owned by the Tata group (74.9%) and Singapore Airlines (25.1%). As of November 2024, the airline serves 102 domestic and international destinations, operating a variety of Airbus and Boeing aircraft and is the second-largest airline in India in terms of passengers carried after Indigo. Air India became the 27th member of Star Alliance on July 11, 2014.
Of all airlines in India, Air India has one of the worst track records of air and passenger safety.
Some major air crashes involving India
June 12, 2025
Air India Flight 171
A London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, with 242 people onboard. Several casualties are feared. The flight was piloted by Capt. Sumit Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kunder.
August 7, 2020
Air India Express Flight 1344
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Air India Express Flight 1344 crashed while landing in heavy rain at Kozhikode airport. The repatriation flight overshot the tabletop runway, fell into a valley, and broke apart. Of the 190 on board, 21 people, including both pilots, died.
May 22, 2010
Air India Express Flight 812
Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway while landing at the Mangalore International Airport in Karnataka. The Boeing 737-800, coming from Dubai, plunged into a gorge beyond the tabletop runway and burst into flames, killing 158 people.
July 17, 2000
Alliance Air Flight 7412
Alliance Air Flight 7412 crashed into a densely populated residential area in Bihar’s Patna while attempting to land. The Boeing 737-200 experienced a stall at low altitude due to the reported improper handling during the final approach. Sixty people were killed, including five on the ground.
November 12, 1996
Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision
India’s deadliest air disaster claimed 349 lives when Saudia Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 collided mid-air near Charkhi Dadri, Haryana. A communication lapse and the Kazakh aircraft’s descent below its assigned altitude caused the crash. The tragedy led to mandatory Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) installation on all commercial aircraft in India.
February 14, 1990
Indian Airlines Flight 605
An Indian Airlines flight crashed while approaching Bengaluru’s HAL Airport, killing 92 of the 146 people on board. The Airbus A320, a relatively new aircraft in India at the time, descended too low and hit the ground short of the runway, skidding onto a golf course.
October 19, 1988
Indian Airlines Flight 113
An Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737-200, crashed on its approach to Ahmedabad Airport. The flight, arriving from Mumbai, struck trees and crashed short of the runway, killing 133 of the 135 people on board.
January 1, 1978
Air India Flight 855
A Dubai-bound Air India flight, a Boeing 747, plunged into the Arabian Sea shortly after taking off from Mumbai, killing all 213 people on board. The crash took place in nighttime conditions over the sea, contributing to the crew’s spatial disorientation.
May 31, 1973
Indian Airlines Flight 440
The Indian Airlines Flight 440 crashed during its approach to Delhi’s Palam Airport. The Boeing 737-200 encountered severe weather and struck high-tension wires just short of the runway. Of the 65 people on board, 48 died. Among the dead was prominent Indian politician Mohan Kumara Mangalam. The crash underscored the need for improved weather radar at Indian airports.
(Prabhjot Singh is a senior journalist who writes with equal aplomb on sports and politics. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)
60 ADDITIONAL ROUTES ACROSS 12 INDIAN AND 26 EUROPEAN CITIES
Air India and Lufthansa Group to codeshare on 100 routes across the Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Australia & the Americas
New codeshare agreement between Air India and Austrian Airlines
Expanded agreements between Air India, Lufthansa and SWISS
NEW DELHI (TIP): Air India and Lufthansa Group have agreed to build on their longstanding codeshare partnership, which sees Air India enter into a new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines, as well as expand the existing codeshare agreements between Air India, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).
The expanded partnership significantly boosts flight options and connectivity for travelers between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe with the addition of close to 60 codeshare routes operated by the four airlines across 12 Indian and 26 European cities.
The expanded agreements increase the total number of codeshare routes between Air India, Lufthansa and SWISS from 55 to nearly 100. Additionally, the new agreement between Air India and Austrian Airlines adds 26 codeshare routes. This provides greater choice, convenience, and seamless experiences to travelers from both regions.
Air India will now offer its customers a total of 26 destinations across Europe and 3 destinations in the Americas beyond its gateways in Europe (Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich), with the ‘AI’ designator code placed on the following services operated by airlines in the Lufthansa Group, including Austrian Airlines for the first time:
Lufthansa
Between Frankfurt and: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Luxembourg, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Nuremberg, Oslo, Prague, Riga, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Valencia, – Washington D.C.
Reciprocally, customers of Lufthansa Group will now be able to connect to Air India’s domestic services to or from 15 points within India, namely Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa Mopa, Goa Dabolim, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram. Additionally, Lufthansa Group carriers will add their respective designator codes to Air India’s international services to 3 destinations from Delhi and Mumbai: Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Additionally, flights currently operated by Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers between India and Germany or Switzerland will be covered under the expanded codeshare partnership. For example, customers who wish to fly between Delhi and Frankfurt will now have three daily flight options each way with ‘LH’ flight numbers, including two flights operated by Air India and one flight operated by Lufthansa.
Both airlines plan to progressively include other destinations in their network to the codeshare arrangements.
Air India and the three Lufthansa Group carriers are members of Star Alliance. Frequent flyers will continue to earn and redeem points/miles on all four airlines, while elite status holders of Air India’s Maharaja Club and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programs will benefit from Star Alliance Gold benefits including priority services, extra baggage allowance, and airport lounge access across the world.
“Our goal is to enable our customers to travel from any corner of the world to another via Air India and its partner airlines. The expansion of our partnership with Lufthansa Group is a step in that direction, and we are pleased to take this long-standing relationship to the next level,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India.
“With this renewed partnership, our customers will have access to more destinations and greater flexibility to travel across Europe on Lufthansa Group carriers. It also gives us the opportunity to serve Lufthansa Group customers, with warmth and quintessential Indian hospitality, aboard Air India flights. We look forward to continue working closely with our Star Alliance partners in making the world feel like a smaller place,” Aggarwal added.
“We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Air India and elevate the travel experience for our joint customers. By further enhancing our cooperation, we will increase the travel options between Europe and India and offer our passengers improved access to additional destinations. Lufthansa Group remains committed to India, and we are excited about the possibilities and potential the country and Air India as a partner have to offer”, according to Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer, Lufthansa Group.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the codeshare flights will be progressively made available for sale through the airlines’ respective booking channels.
The Lufthansa Group is an aviation group with operations worldwide. With 100,000+ employees, Lufthansa Group generated revenue of €35.4bn in the financial year 2023. Our largest business segment is Passenger Airlines while other key business segments include Logistics and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). Other companies and Group functions such as IT companies and Lufthansa Aviation Training form complimentary components of the Group. All airlines and business segments play leading roles in their respective markets.
All Air India flights between New York region and Delhi now operated by A350-900
NEW YORK (TIP) : Air India, India’s leading global airline, today began operating its flagship A350-900 aircraft on non-stop flights between Newark’s Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Delhi. This follows Air India’s A350 service from New York (JFK) to Delhi inaugurated on November 1, 2024.
With this, Air India now serves all non-stop flights between the New York region and India’s capital city with its A350 aircraft, offering its all-new cabin interiors, award-winning new Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, complimentary Wi-Fi internet connectivity on board, enhanced catering, and new service ware.
Air India is the only non-stop carrier between the U.S. and India to offer private suites in Business Class. The airline’s A350 aircraft also features a dedicated, upscale Premium Economy cabin.
Air India’s A350 aircraft offer travelers brand-new cabin interiors, an award-winning new Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, complimentary on-board WiFi internet connectivity, enhanced catering, and new service ware.
The aircraft features a Business Class cabin with 28 private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each accommodating a fully flat bed. Each suite offers direct aisle access, sliding privacy doors, and a personal wardrobe.
Air India is the only non-stop carrier between the United States and India to offer private suites in Business Class.
The A350 deployment brings Air India’s Premium Economy experience on all flights between Delhi and the New York region, offering 24 extra-legroom seats in a 2-4-2 configuration in a dedicated, upscale cabin.
Passengers on Air India’s A350 flights can enjoy WiFi internet connectivity on board and stay connected. The service is currently complimentary for all passengers.
The full suite of the new IFE content on Air India’s A350 flights features over 3000 hours of entertainment content across formats and genres, including 1400 hours of movies, 850 hours of TV, and 1000 hours of audio.
About Air India group
The Air India group – comprising of full-service global airline Air India and low-cost regional carrier Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 55 domestic and 48 international destinations across five continents.
In pictures: Air India’s cabin crew recreated iconic New York City moments and visited popular movie locations to celebrate new Air India’s arrival in New York.
Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India placed the then largest-ever order for 470 new aircraft in 2023. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2025, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit.
With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.
In celebration of the launch, Air India’s cabin crew went on a cinematic journey in New York City to recreate iconic moments and in search of some of the city’s landmarks featured in Hollywood movies. Donning their new Manish Malhotra-designed uniforms, here is how they strolled through the city, expressing their excitement and pride for the ‘new Air India experience’ arriving in New York.
Reliving a piece of history, Air India cabin crew members recreated one of the most influential photographs of all time, the iconic ‘Lunch Atop a Skyscraper’ photograph from 1932. The photograph showed ironworkers taking a casual lunch break on a towering skyscraper beam during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Air India’s crew took a moment to capture the spirit of innovation and adventure embodied in the striking photograph, atop Rockefeller Plaza.
The serene beauty and lush greenery around the picturesque Gapstow Bridge in Central Park has made the bridge a popular choice among filmmakers across generations. This is where Kevin McCallister first encounters the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and it is also where the ‘Runway Jungle’ photo shoot takes place in The Devil Wears Prada.
The grand staircase of The Met that leads up to the museum’s entrance is a striking architectural feature, and where numerous TV shows and films have been shot. The Met steps were a regular backdrop for popular drama series, Gossip Girl, as well as for much of the popular heist movie, Ocean’s 8. And in When Harry Met Sally, the funny “pecan pie” sequence, in which Harry and Sally are in a museum and they talk about ‘too much pepper on paprikash’, was filmed here.
The Air India crew strolled the busy sidewalks under bright neon lights of Times Square, as the highly popular tourist attraction has featured in numerous Bollywood and Hollywood movies. Whether it is the subliminal imagery in Tom Cruise’s Vanilla Sky that shows him running alone through Times Square, the flashmob scene in Friends with Benefits, or Preity Zinta’s happy dance in the Bollywood movie Kal Ho Naa Ho, Times Square dazzles anywhere one sees it, on the silver screen and in real life.
The iconic yellow taxis in New York have become a staple in countless movies set in the city. They often serve as more than just transportation, symbolizing the hustle and bustle of urban life and even playing active roles in plots. Whether it’s a quick cameo or a central element, the New York taxis are a cinematic icon.
The iconic scene from Scent of a Woman, in which Frank (Al Pacino) and Donna (Gabrielle Anwar) tangoed was filmed at The Pierre, providing the perfect backdrop for the passionate dance and making it one of the most memorable moments in the film. Air India crew stopped by in the stunning Rotunda Room at The Pierre hotel in Manhattan to remember the iconic film.
The 1979 Woody Allen classic, Manhattan, known for being a glorious celebration of New York, was another inspiration for the cabin crew members. The Air India crew found the exact spot and recreated the profound scene in which Isaac Davis (Woody Allen) and Mary Wilkie (Diane Keaton) sit underneath Queensboro Bridge, admiring it and talking until dawn. An image of the scene also became the film’s iconic poster.
New Delhi (TIP)- A Dubai-Jaipur Air India flight made an emergency landing at the airport in Jaipur in the early hours of Saturday (October 19, 2024) due to a bomb threat, which later turned out to be a hoax, officials said. After authorities were alerted about the bomb threat, an emergency was declared at the Jaipur airport. The flight with 189 passengers onboard landed safely at the airport at 1.20 am, an official said.
The plane was checked thoroughly but nothing suspicious was found, he said. This is the latest in a series of bomb threats received by various airlines on domestic and international routes. Most threats were received through social media and all of them turned out to be hoaxes. More than 20 flights received bomb threats this week, leading to diversions and rescheduling of flights and sending security forces into a tizzy. Vistara’s Delhi-London flight diverted to Frankfurt after bomb threat
A London-bound Vistara flight from Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt on Friday (October 18, 2024) following a bomb threat. In a statement early Saturday morning, an airline spokesperson said the flight landed safely at the Frankfurt airport and mandatory checks are being conducted. The flight will continue to its destination once cleared by the security agencies. “Vistara flight UK17 operating from Delhi to London on October 18, 2024 received a security threat on social media. In line with the protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed and as a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt,” the spokesperson said.
According to an official in the know, the flight had received a bomb threat.
Meanwhile, Akasa Air said its flight QP 1366 scheduled to fly from Bengaluru to Mumbai on Friday received a security alert shortly before departure.
As Delhi burns at over 50 degrees Celsius, the delay for passengers at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport was unending. An Air India flight to San Francisco was on Thursday delayed by over 20 hours due to multiple reasons. Flight AI 183, originally scheduled to take off at 3.20 pm on Thursday was rescheduled to depart at 11 am on Friday, May 31. The passengers were allegedly made to wait without proper air-conditioning, causing several of them to faint. A passenger, Shweta Punj, took to X: “If there is a privatisation story that has failed it is Air India. DGCA [aviation regulator] AI 183 flight has been delayed for over eight hours, passengers were made to board the plane without air-conditioning, and then deplaned after some people fainted in the flight. This is inhuman,”
Punj also tagged Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Responding to Punj’s post, Air India said: “Dear Ms. Punj, we truly regret to note the disruptions. Please rest assured that our team is actively working to address the delay and appreciates your ongoing support and understanding. We are also alerting our team to provide necessary assistance to the passengers.” Last week, too, an Air India flight suffered an inordinate delay while passengers were made to wait without proper assistance.
The Air India flight from Mumbai to San Francisco was delayed by over 25 hours. During this time, passengers had to sit inside the passenger cabin for around six hours with poor air-conditioning. Source: TNS
Rahul Gandhi gets a warm reception on arrival at the San Francisco airport on May 30, 2023. Seen among others is IOC USA President Mohinder Gilzian in white turban (Photo / PTI
I.S. Saluja
NEW YORK (TIP): On his first visit abroad after being disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi spoke candidly on a number of national and international issues at a number of events which included a National Press Club appearance in Washington, D.C. , meetings with students at universities, and with the public in California and Washington D.C.
On a six-day visit to the US, Rahul Gandhi was in California on May 30 and 31 on the first leg of his tour where he spoke at the ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ event organized by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara on Tuesday, May 30.
On May 31, he held interactions with Silicon Valley AI experts and startup entrepreneurs.
Rahul Gandhi was in Washington, D.C. on June 1 and 2 where he appeared at a number of events including the National Press Club appearance , held meetings with students, business and trade representatives, the Indian Diaspora organizations and with US lawmakers.
He would arrive in New York on June 3 on the last leg of his tour where the Indian Overseas Congress USA has planned a huge public meeting at the Javits Center in Manhattan on Sunday, June 4, and before that, on June 3, a dinner has been organized where Rahul Gandhi will meet people in an informal setting.
During his stay in New York, he will be meeting with representatives of various organizations and have interactions with a number of delegations . He will also speak to students.
Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda said Gandhi’s visit is aimed at promoting shared values and a vision of “real democracy”.
“The purpose of his (Gandhi’s) trip is to connect, interact and begin a new conversation with various individuals, institutions and media, including the Indian diaspora that is growing in numbers in the United States and abroad to promote the shared values and vision of the real democracy with a focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability, justice, peace and opportunities world over,” Pitroda said in a statement on Sunday, May 28. The Indian Panorama brings you below the media coverage of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the US from May 30 to June 2, 2023.
BJP can be defeated if Opposition is ‘aligned properly’: Rahul Gandhi
@RahulGandhi Interacts with activists, academics and civil society at University of California, Santa Cruz (Twitter photo)
SANTA CLARA, CA (TIP): The ruling BJP can be defeated if the Opposition is “aligned properly” and the Congress party is working towards it and it is “coming along very nicely”, Rahul Gandhi has told Indian Americans here, citing his party’s emphatic victory in the recent assembly elections in Karnataka.
Responding to questions from the moderator and the audiences at an event at the Silicon Valley Campus of the University of California in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, Gandhi said he can clearly see “vulnerabilities” in the BJP.
“As a political entrepreneur, I can clearly see vulnerabilities in the BJP… The BJP can be defeated if the Opposition is aligned properly,” he said.
“If you look at the Karnataka elections, the general sense is that the Congress Party fought the BJP and defeated the BJP. But what is not well understood is the mechanics that we used,” he said.
The Congress party used a completely different approach to fighting an election and building a narrative, Gandhi said, adding that elements of what happened in Karnataka came out of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, while incumbent BJP and the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) got 66 and 19, respectively.
Gandhi said in the Karnataka elections, the BJP spent 10 times more money than the Congress party.
He said the country needed an alternative vision to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in addition to having a united Opposition in the 2024 general elections.
“On the matter of opposition unity, we are working towards it and it is coming along very nicely. But I think in order to defeat the BJP, you need more than just opposition unity. Just opposition unity, in my opinion, is not going to be enough to do the job. I think you need an alternative vision to the BJP,” he said.
“Part of Bharat Jodo Yatra was the first step in proposing such a vision. It’s the vision that all opposition parties are aligned with. No opposition party would disagree with the idea of the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he said.
Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March) was a Gandhi-led mass movement aimed at uniting India. The yatra began on September 7 from Kanyakumari, passed through 12 states and culminated in Jammu and Kashmir on January 31. During the course of the yatra, Gandhi, 52, addressed 12 public meetings, over 100 corner meetings and 13 press conferences. He had over 275 planned walking interactions and more than 100 sitting interactions.
“So, I think bringing the opposition together is important, but also aligning the opposition and making the people of India understand that there is not just a group of opposition parties that have combined but a proposed way forward for the country. And we’re working on those things,” Gandhi said.
The ex-Wayanad MP said it is the president of the Congress party who will decide the prime ministerial candidate.
“We believe that everybody in India, regardless of who they are, whichever part of the society they come from, they should have a voice that voice should be respected, to be listened to be appreciated. And I think that voice is an asset,” he said.
In his address, Gandhi also took a dig at the ruling BJP government, saying it is “threatening” the people and “misusing” the country’s agencies.
“The BJP is threatening people and misusing government agencies. The Bharat Jodo Yatra started because all the instruments that we needed to connect with the people were controlled by the BJP-RSS,” he said.
“We were also finding that in some way, it had become quite difficult to act politically. And that’s why we decided to walk from the southernmost tip of India to Srinagar,” he said.
Gandhi said the yatra carried the spirit of affection, respect and humility.
“If one studies history, it can be seen that all spiritual leaders — including Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Basavanna ji, Narayana Guru ji — united the nation in a similar way,” he said.
Gandhi said India is not what is being shown in the media which likes to promote a political narrative that is far from reality, asserting that there is a “huge distortion”.
“It was very clear to me in the Yatra that it’s in the media’s interest to project these things, it helps the BJP. So, don’t think that everything you see in the media is the truth,” he said.
“India is not what the media shows. The media likes to show a particular narrative. It likes to promote a political narrative that is actually not what is going on in India,” he said.
The Congress leader arrived here on Tuesday, May 30 on a three-city US tour during which he will interact with the Indian diaspora and meet American lawmakers.
He had a first-hand experience of the American immigration system as he had to wait for about two hours along with his other co-passengers on the Air India flight because of the common shortage of staff at the US airports.
People were seen taking selfies with him and asking him questions. He was seen interacting and mingling with other traveler’s at the San Francisco airport.
(Source: PTI)
Rahul Gandhi says PM Modi thinks he knows more than God, calls him ‘specimen’
SANTA CLARA, CA (TIP): There are people in India who think they know more than God and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “one such specimen”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said.
Speaking at the ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ event organized by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara in the US state of California on Tuesday, May 30, Gandhi said these people are “absolutely convinced” that they know everything and can explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army.
“The world is too big and complicated for any person to know everything. That is the disease…There is a group of people in India who are absolutely convinced they know everything. They think they know even more than God.
“They can sit with God and explain to him what’s going on. And of course, our prime minister is one such specimen. If you sat Modiji with God, he would explain to God how the universe works and God will get confused about what have I created,” he said, evoking peals of laughter from hundreds of his Indian American supporters.
“They think they can explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army. But at the core of it is mediocrity. They’re not ready to listen!” he said.
Gandhi’s event was attended by community members not only in Silicon Valley but also from Los Angeles and Canada. Gandhi told the Indian Americans that the idea of India was under attack and is being challenged.
He applauded the Indian Americans for holding up the Indian flag in America, showing the American people what it means to be an Indian by respecting their culture and learning from them while also allowing the Americans to learn from them.
“You make us all proud. When we think of our country, you are all our ambassadors. When America says Indian people are extremely intelligent. Indian people are masters of IT, Indian people are respectful. All these ideas that have come, they’ve come because of you and because of your actions and your behaviors,” he said.
(Source: PTI)
Rahul Gandhi says his disqualification from Lok Sabha has given him huge opportunity
Congress @INCIndia Scenes from @RahulGandhi ji’s interaction with the Indian diaspora in San Francisco, California, in the United States. Twitter photo
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that he did not imagine his disqualification from Lok Sabha was possible when he joined politics but asserted that it has given him a “huge opportunity” to serve the people.
Gandhi, who is in the US for a three-city US tour, made the remarks on Wednesday, June 31 night in response to a series of questions from Indian students at the prestigious Stanford University Campus in California.
The Wayanad (Kerala) Member of Parliament was disqualified from Lok Sabha earlier this year after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark.
In his remarks, Gandhi said that when he joined politics in 2000, he never imagined this is what he would go through. What he sees is going on now is way outside anything that he had thought when he joined politics.
Referring to his disqualification from Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament, Gandhi, 52, said he didn’t imagine that something like this was possible.
“But then I think it’s actually given me a huge opportunity. Probably much bigger than the opportunity I would have. That’s just the way politics works,” he said.
“I think the drama started really, about six months ago. We were struggling. The entire opposition is struggling in India. Huge financial dominance. Institutional capture. We’re struggling to fight the democratic fight in our country,” he said, adding that at this point in time, he decided to go for the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
“I am very clear, our fight is ours fight,” he said. “But there is a group of young students from India here. I want to have a relationship with them and want to talk to them. It’s my right to do it,” he said during his interaction with Indian students and academicians of Indian origin at the University here.
He also emphasized in his frequent foreign trips like this, he is not seeking support from anybody.
“I don’t understand why the prime minister doesn’t come here and do it,” Gandhi asked amidst applause from the audience who had packed the entire auditorium at Stanford.
The moderator said that the Prime Minister is welcome to come to Stanford anytime and interact with the students and academicians.
Some of the students were denied entry as the auditorium was packed. Students started queuing up two hours before the event started. In the last one and a half years, several Indian ministers have interacted with Indian students.
(Source: PTI)
Rahul Gandhi holds interactions with Silicon Valley AI experts, startup entrepreneurs
SUNNYWALE, CA (TIP): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday, May 31 spent the first half of his day with Silicon Valley-based startup entrepreneurs, known for doing path-breaking work in the field of Artificial Intelligence and cutting-edge technologies.Sitting in the front row of the Plug and Play auditorium along with Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda and some other key aides who have been travelling with him from India, Gandhi was seen engrossed in the panel discussion of experts on various aspects of artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning and their implications on mankind in general and on issues like governance, social welfare measures and also disinformation and misinformation.
Based out of Sunnyvale in California, the Plug and Play Tech Centre is one of the largest incubators of startups. According to its CEO and Founder Saeed Amidi, more than 50 per cent of the startups founder at Plug and Play have been Indians or Indian Americans. Amidi told PTI after the event that Gandhi has shown a deep understanding of the IT sector and his knowledge of the latest and cutting edge technologies are quite impressive.
Participating in a fireside chat with Amidi and Shaun Shankaran, founder of FixNix Startup, Gandhi tried to link all the technologies with the impact this would have on the common man in the remote villages of India.
“If you want to spread any technology in India, you have to have a system where power is relatively decentralized,” he said in response to a question and then went on to share with the select group of invited entrepreneurs about his personal experience of drone technology and its regulation, which, according to him, “faced massive bureaucratic hurdles”.
Data, Gandhi said, is the new gold and countries like India have realized the real potential of it. “There is need to have appropriate regulations on data safety and security”. However, on the issue of Pegasus spyware and similar technologies, Gandhi told the audience he is not worried about it. At one point of time he said he knows his phone is being tapped. And jokingly said, “Hello! Mr Modi” on his iPhone.
“I presume my iPhone is being tapped. You need establish rules with regard to privacy of data information as a nation and also as an individual,” he said.
“If a nation state decides that they want to tap your phone, no one can stop you. This is my sense,” he said. “If the nation is interested in tapping phone, then this is not a battle worth fighting. I think whatever I do and work, is available to the government,” he claimed.
Shankaran, who hosted Gandhi for the AI event at Plug and Play, said he is very much impressed about the knowledge he has shown about the latest developments in technology.
(Source: PTI)
India, China relationship is going to be ‘tough’, says Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi speaks at a gathering during his US visit (Photo / ANI)
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has asserted that India cannot be pushed around by China as he underlined that the relationship between the two neighbors is going to be “tough” and not an easy one.
Gandhi, who is in the US for a three-city US tour, made the remarks on Wednesday, May 31 night in response to a question from Indian students at the Stanford University Campus in California.
“How do you see the India-China relationship evolving in the next 5-10 years?” he was asked.
Gandhi replied, “It’s tough right now. I mean, they’ve occupied some of our territory. It’s rough. It’s not too easy (a relationship).” “India cannot be pushed around. That something is not going to happen,” Gandhi said.
India and China are also locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for three years.
The bilateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020.
India has maintained that the bilateral relationship cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border area.
During his interaction at Stanford University, Gandhi supported New Delhi’s policy of having its relationship with Russia in the context of the Ukrainian war, despite the pressure it feels from the West.
“We have a relationship with Russia, we have certain dependencies on Russia. So, I would have a similar stance as the Government of India,” Gandhi said in response to a question when asked does he supports India’s neutral stance on Russia. At the end of the day, India has to look for its own interest. India, he said, is a big enough country whereby it generally will have relationships with other countries.
It’s not so small and dependent that it will have a relationship with one and nobody else, he added.
“We will always have these types of relationships. We will have better relationships with some people, evolving relationships with other people. So that balance is there,” the former Congress president said.
Supporting a strong relationship between India and the United States, Gandhi underscored the importance of manufacturing and both countries collaborating in emerging fields like data and artificial intelligence. Simply focusing on the security and defense aspect of this bilateral relationship is not enough he said.
(Source: PTI)
BJP will be ‘decimated’ in the next three-four assembly elections: Rahul Gandhi
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Rahul Gandhi has said that the BJP will be “decimated” in the next three-four assembly elections by the Congress, emphasizing that they have the basic requirements that are needed to defeat the ruling party which do not have the support of the vast majority of the Indian population.
These remarks were made by Gandhi, who is in the US for a three-city US tour, on Thursday, June 1, at a reception hosted for him by eminent Indian American Frank Islam.
“There is a tendency of people to believe that this sort of juggernaut of the RSS and the BJP is unstoppable. This is not the case. I’ll make a little prediction here. You will see that the next three or four elections that we fight directly with the BJP will be decimated,” Gandhi said in response to a question at the reception.
“I can give it to you right now, that they’re gonna have a really tough time in these assembly elections. We’ll do to them the very similar stuff that we’ve done in Karnataka. But if you ask the Indian media that’s not going to happen,” he said.
The Congress secured a comfortable majority and ousted the BJP from power in Karnataka in the May 10 assembly elections. The visiting leader told the invited group of Indian Americans, members of the think-tank community and lawmakers that the Indian press is currently giving a highly favorable version of the BJP.
“Please realize that 60 per cent of India does not vote for the BJP, does not vote for Narendra Modi. That’s something you have to remember. The BJP has the instruments of noise in their hand, so they can shout, they can scream, they can distort, they can yell, and they are much better at doing that. But they do not have the vast majority of the Indian population (supporting them),” he said.
Responding to another question, Gandhi said that he is convinced that the Congress will be able to defeat the BJP.
Assembly elections will be held in five states — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram — later this year, setting the stage for the crucial general elections in 2024.
“Rebuilding the democratic architecture is not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be difficult. It’s gonna take time. But we are absolutely convinced that we have the basic requirements that are needed to defeat the BJP,” the 52-year-old former Congress party President said.
“You will hear from the media that Modi is impossible to defeat. A lot of it is exaggerated. Modi is actually quite vulnerable. There’s huge unemployment in the country, a massive increase in prices in the country, and these things in India, pinch people, very, very quickly and very hard,” he said.
“But it’s been a very interesting time for me to see how this process plays out. I would’ve never imagined that this is how democracy is attacked. This is the method of attacking a democracy. It has been very good for me,” he said responding to a question on his disqualification as an MP.
The Wayanad (Kerala) Member of Parliament was disqualified from Lok Sabha earlier this year after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark.
“These are good things for me because they teach me and they crystallize exactly what I’m supposed to do and how I’m supposed to do it. I thank all of you for your support, your love and affection. It means a lot to me, especially coming to the United States and seeing that there are many, many people who are ready to fight for Indian democracy and protection,” he said.
(Source: PTI )
Indian democracy is a ‘global public good’; its ‘collapse’ will have an impact on world says Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Photo / PTI
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Asserting that Indian democracy is a “global public good”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that its “collapse” will have an impact on the world and is not in America’s national interest.
At the same time, Gandhi, who is currently on a six-day tour of the United States, said in multiple settings that the issue of democracy is an internal matter of the country, and he is committed to fighting against it.
“It’s our job, it’s our business, and it’s our work to fight the battle for democracy in India. “And it’s something that we understand, we accept, and we do,” he told reporters at a news conference here at the National Press Club on Thursday, June 1.
“But the thing to remember is that Indian democracy is a global public good. Because India is large enough that a collapse in democracy in India will affect…will have an impact on the world. So that is for you to think about how much you have to value Indian democracy. But for us, it’s an internal matter, and it’s a fight that we are committed to, and we are going to, we are going to win,” Gandhi said. He gave a similar answer to questions on democracy at a reception hosted for him by eminent Indian American Frank Islam.
Responding to a question, Gandhi said that there is a need to broaden the India-US relationship and it should not be restricted to just defense relationships alone. “India has to do what’s in its interest. And that’s what will guide us… So, I am not entirely convinced about the sort of autocratic vision that is being promoted. I think that it’s very important that democracy is protected on the planet. So, India has a role there. India, of course, has its view on things, and I think that that view should be put on the table, but I don’t think one should think about these things as the center of things. I think that’s, that would be arrogant,” he said.
“We understand the strengths that we bring to the table: democratic values, data, these are some of the things that technology, a highly educated, technically educated population. These are our strengths. I think we have to chart our course based on these strengths,” he said in response to a question on the India-US relationship.
During an interaction with the media at the National Press Club, Gandhi said that “the US and India have synergies, that if they come together can be very powerful. What we are facing is a particular vision of the world, the Chinese vision of the world that offers productivity, and prosperity, but under a non-Democratic field.”
“That’s not acceptable to us, because we simply cannot thrive under non-democratic. So, we have to think about productive production and prosperity in a Democratic field. And I think that’s where the bridge between India and the United States can play a very important role for us and for you,” he said.
Responding to a question on China, at a dinner reception, Gandhi said the Chinese system offers prosperity, but under a non-democratic system. “I feel that an alternative vision needs to be put on the table. I think that’s the real challenge facing the United States and India and other democracies. What exactly does a countervailing vision look like and what are the core elements of that vision?” he said.
“I think we are in the midst of a number of transitions. We are in the midst of a transition in mobility, a transition in energy, a transition in communication. How do we, how do we think about those transitions? I think those are really the big questions. Of course, uh, with regards to the United States, we have cooperation on defense, and that’s very important, but I think it’s equally important to widen the relationship and make it broader so it’s more secure,” Gandhi said.
China is occupying Indian territory, the former Congress party chief claimed.
“It’s an accepted fact. I think 1,500 square kilometers of land the size of Delhi is occupied by them. It’s absolutely unacceptable. The Prime Minister seems to believe otherwise. Maybe he knows something that we don’t know,” he said at the National Press Club.
(Source: PTI)
Air India will hire more than 1,000 pilots, including captains and trainers, as the Tata Group-owned airline expands its fleet and network. The airline, which currently has more than 1,800 pilots, has placed orders for 470 aircraft with Boeing and Airbus, including for wide-body planes. The latest Airbus firm order comprises 210 A320/321 Neo/XLR and 40 A350-900/1000. The Boeing firm order comprises 190 737-Max, 20 787s and 10 777s.
The carrier, which was taken over by the Tata Group in January last year, is hiring more than 1,000 pilots, according to an advertisement on Thursday. “We are offering multiple opportunities and accelerated growth across our A320, B777, B787 and B737 fleet for captains and first officers, as well as trainers,” it said, adding that more than 500 aircraft are joining its fleet. Meanwhile, pilots of Air India have raised concerns about the airline’s latest decision to revamp their salary structure and service conditions. On April 17, Air India rolled out a revamped compensation structure for its pilots and cabin crew, which has since been rejected by the two pilot unions – Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) – on grounds that the airline, in alleged violation of labour practices, did not consult them before finalising the new contracts. Tata Group has four airlines — Air India, Air India Express, AIX Connect and Vistara, which is a joint venture with Singapore Airlines. The group is in the process of merging Air India Express and AIX Connect as well as Vistara with Air India.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The mega commercial plane deal between Air India and Boeing is an opportunity to deepen an already profoundly intertwined relationship between India and the United States, the US said Wednesday, February 15. “It’s an opportunity to deepen what is already a profoundly intertwined relationship based on shared interests, based on shared values, based on our deep economic ties. And with the announcements between Boeing and Air India yesterday, those ties are all the deeper,” State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference.
The “landmark” Air India-Boeing deal, according to US President Joe Biden, will create up to 1 million jobs across 44 states in the US.
“It is something that we’ve heralded. It is an opportunity not only for the American economy and for workers here in this country, but it’s an opportunity for the Indian people as well,” Price said in response to a question, a day after the historic airplane deal between the two countries.
“The United States is engaged around the world – not just in India but around the world – in what we refer to as commercial diplomacy, seeking to find concrete, tangible, practical ways to deepen our economic ties with countries around the world in a way that benefits the American people back here at home,” he said.
“I think the agreement that was announced yesterday between Boeing and Air India is a vivid example of that – the number of jobs it creates here, the number of opportunities it creates in India, and the possibility it provides to deepen that partnership even further,” Price said.
On Tuesday, Air India announced its agreement to purchase 190 Boeing 737 MAXs, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777Xs – a total of 220 firm orders valued at a list price of USD34 billion which will support more than one million American jobs across 44 states, many of which will not require a four-year college degree.
“I’m very happy to learn of this new piece of the robust US-India economic partnership. Strengthening the ties that bind our nations, the world’s oldest democracy and its largest, will support American jobs while bringing greater security and prosperity to both our citizens and the wider world,” Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said in a separate statement.
Lighting of the lamp. Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Consul General of India at New York lights the lamp . (Photo:Vijay Shah)Mr. Roel Huinink, CEO, JFK Airport lights the lamp. (Photo : Vijay Shah)
I.S. Saluja with Vijay Shah
NEW YORK (TIP): Tata Air India, on February 14, relaunched from JFK airport the direct flight from New York to Mumbai. Impressive ceremonies, from seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessings to the beat of the Maharashtrian Dhol Tasha, to exquisite dances, with the usual ribbon cutting, lamp lighting to cutting of the cake, marked the festive occasion. Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Consul General of India at New York who was the chief guest, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the relaunch ceremonies in the presence of Mr. Roel Huinink, CEO JFK Airport, Mr. Sunil Daware, Regional Manager (Americas) Air India, Mr. Girish Salian, Air India Manager at JFK, Capt. Shomu Sinha, Amarjit Singh, Deputy Manager, JFK, community leaders and Air India staff.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal thanked the Tata Group-who now owned Air India for relaunching the direct flight from New York to Mumbai which he said, will help the passengers to save time and experience less travel fatigue.
Mr. Sunil Daware, Regional Manager, Americas, Air India lights the lamp. (Photo : Vijay Shah)Air India New York to Mumbai flight crew poses for a photograph. (Photo : Vijay Shah)
Mr. Sunil Daware gave a brief history of Air India. The airline came into being in 1932. Bharat Ratna J.R.D Tata founded the airline which was acquired by Government of Indian 1953. It is after 70 years that Air India came back to Tata Group on 27th, January 2022 . Tata Group now fully owns Air India. In order to strengthen the fleet, Tata Group has announced purchase of 470 aircraft with Airbus and Boeing, including 260 widebody planes, the largest order ever. Mr. Daware said that soon more direct flights on various routes will be added.”
Mr. Roel Huinink said that Air India will now increase traffic at JFK Airport since direct flights are going to be added for convenience of travelers. He appreciated the Indian community which he said is very diverse and courageous.
Ambassador Jaiswal, Mr Daware, Mr. Huinink, Capt. Shomu Sinha, Mr. Amarjit Singh, the Air India staff and a few community leaders joined in cake cutting, followed by a breakfast.
The Maharashtra Dhol Tasha celebrating the occasion.(Photo : Vijay Shah)One of the dance groups. (Photo : Vijay Shah)Ambassador Jaiswal presenting Air India Star award for excellent services to Amarjit Singh, Air India Manager at the JFK airport. (Photo : Vijay Shah)Time to cut the cake and celebrate the relaunch of the flight. (Photo : Vijay Shah)The check-in time. (Photo: Vijay Shah)
At Ganesh Vandana. Seen among others are Padma Bhushan DR Mehta, Prem Bhandari, CJI Randhir Jaiswal, KK Mehta.D R Mehta giving award and flowers to Dr Subha Jain on behalf of Dr Vijay Arya Deep Chopra, BOD RANA, and her son.Prem Bhandari giving flowers to LP Pant, national head, Dainik Bhaskar.Consul General of India, New York, Randhir Jaiswal, givinga plaque to Dr Raj Bansal, Mrs Raj Bansal. RANA joint treasurer Dr Sharad Kothariis giving flowers to Mrs Raj Bansal.Dr Sadhna Joshi from Canada being awarded by Dr Varun Jeph, Deputy Counsel General of India, New York.Rakesh Goenka of Canada being honored by Rashi Bajaj, Canada RANA President.RANA President Prem Bhandari noted the importance of unity among various diaspora communities and organizations in the US andsaid “it is important that all are united in raising their voices against discrimination and hate crimeslike vandalism of the Gandhi statue at the Hindu temple in Queens. He alsopledged to continue his efforts to bring together all Rajasthanis living in different parts of the world.Nidhi Ladda and Krupa Patel performed Ganesh Vandana and Mahishasur Mardini.Founder of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) Padma Bhushan D.R. Mehta is seen in attendance among other honorable guests.Actor Prashantt Guptha, who acted in Neerja Tashkand Files among others, hosted the Gala Event.
NEW YORK (TIP): The Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) held its annual gala event in Long Island, where it honored community leaders from the Indian diaspora for their selfless service and contributions to society. The Indian diaspora in the US has risen to the occasion time and again, in the direst circumstances. Some of the community leaders have led by example by giving selflessly for the welfare of fellow diaspora and beyond in need. The Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA),one such organization that has been a reliable source of help, organized an annual gala in Long Island to honor the community members from the Indian diaspora for their service and contributions to society.
At the grand event, RANA also raised a generous $1.3 million from various community leaders in contribution to various charitable causes such as Jaipur Foot. Founder of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), which is the parent organization of Jaipur Foot USA, Padma Bhushan D.R. Mehta attended the event as the special guest alongside Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal, IFS, who was the chief guest, Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph as well as prominent members of the Indian-American community, particularly those hailing from Rajasthan. Dr. Samin Sharma, a noted interventional cardiologist at Mt Sinai, was the guest of honor at the event. At the event, D.R. Mehta spoke at length and gave a power point presentation about the charitable work of Jaipur Foot, which is a prosthetic limb provider to the differently-abled for free of cost. With BMVSS at the helm, Jaipur Foot camps have benefitted millions in India and abroad through various camps.
As a way to show their support and appreciation, many diaspora members made generous contributions to Jaipur Foot USA and other charitable purposes. K K Mehta and Chandra Mehta announced a contribution of $1 million from their family trust and $100,000 in scholarships. KK Mehta was also the first NRI to donate Rs 1 crore on the first day PM Narendra Modi announced the PM CARES Fund, which was at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. RANA president and Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari, who is also the family trust advisory board chairman, said BMVSS chief patron D.R. Mehta will be advising the trust with respect to utilizing the contribution in the best way possible. Bhandari also praised KK Mehta and Chandra Mehta for offering the Times Square Hotel to Air India pilots and crew members during the second phase of the Vande Bharat mission amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He also hailed the generosity with which 100 rooms were given to distressed Indian students for free at the request of the Indian consulate in NY request during the peak of COVID. Demonstrating yet another peak of generosity, Dr. Raj Bansal pledged to sponsor one Jaipur Foot camp in the memory of his late father. Besides this, Dr. Shubha Jain, a noted philanthropist from California, announced a contribution of $100,000 to RANA for charity purposes, and Anil Jain and Jugal Kishore Ladda also announced contributions of $50,000 each for Jaipur Foot.
RANA posthumously honored Dharamchand Hirawat, and former RANA presidents Dr. Ajay Lodha and Rajiv Garg with the Lifetime Achievement Award “for their memorable contribution towards society.”
The association also felicitated prominent diaspora members Dr. Raj Bansal, Dr. Sadhna Joshi, Dr. Shubha Jain and Rakesh Goenka for their contribution to the community over the years, including during the pandemic.
Bhandari noted the importance of unity among various diaspora communities and organizations in the US. He pointed out that there are many state and community-specific organizations like RANA, Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA) GANA Gujrat Association of North America and diaspora organizations like FIA and Associations of Indians In America (AIA). But it is important that all are united in raising their voices against discrimination and hate crimes, he said highlighting the incident of vandalism of the Gandhi statue at the Hindu temple in Queens. “We are all Indians first,” Bhandari said, adding that he will continue efforts to bring together all Rajasthanis living in different parts of the world. On the sidelines of the gala event, Prem Bhandari praised International Business Times and said that “IBT is not like other international newspapers that are unable to digest India’s progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” He condemned such international news outlets while criticizing their efforts to “spoil India’s image by the means of fake news.” The RANA gala turned out to be an engaging event, complete with cultural performances showcasing Rajasthan’s heritage as well as songs by prominent artists from India. A group of RANA members’ wives also performed Rajasthan’s traditional Ghoomar dance at the event, which enthralled the audience. Nidhi Ladha and Kripa Patel did Ganesh Vandana and performed the Mahishasura Mardini dance.
At the event, a Hindi newspaper and a TV channel were also awarded for their coverage of social concerns, COVID-19 updates, the Ukraine crisis, and issues related to immigrants. The entire event was hosted by the talented Prashantt Guptha, a Rajasthan-origin actor, producer and writer. He kept the proceedings of the event interesting, keeping the audience occupied in the most fun and entertaining way.
It was mid-May of 1982. After cycling through different parts of England, finally, I reached London on my trusted bicycle. I was almost halfway through, traversing the world. London was the last leg of my European adventure before I would hop into New York City. I was carrying a “Mandatory Order”, issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt of India. that clearly indicated to issue me a free Air Ticket on then National Carrier, Air India. Incidentally, it was a kind gesture extended by the Civil Aviation Ministry to support me in my worldwide cycling adventure, especially to crossing over the ocean.
I went to the Air India office in London with that note and met with the person concerned. He took that note to his senior officer and came back in a few minutes with a negative response, giving the reason, that it was an expired mandatory order. A fresh order was required from the ministry to get a free passage for NY City. I tried my best to explain that since I was riding a bicycle, I couldn’t maintain the time limit but my effort to convince him was all in vain. Totally disheartened, I left the Air India office empty-handed. I tried to get a free ticket from some other carriers too but no luck. Finally, I tried desperately to raise some funds from certain service clubs in London, so that I could buy an air ticket. Sure, it worked but a little differently, I visited one of the local Lions Clubs where I gave a talk about my cycling adventures and shared some of my harrowing experiences. After the meeting got over, one kind-hearted gentleman came up to me and offered any help that I would need. I didn’t let the opportunity go, explained my situation to him, He gave me his visiting card and asked me to see him the next day.
I was skeptical, still, I went to his office to see him. Soon I realized that it was a Travel Agent’s Office, and that gentleman was the owner. You guessed it correctly, he asked one of his employees to take care of me. In the meantime, as the ticket was being issued, the owner took me out for lunch at a nearby restaurant. When I returned the ticket was already issued. Of course, it was an Air India Ticket.
I didn’t pay a penny however I saw the price mentioned on that ticket, was 124.00 Sterling Pounds…! I cannot imagine these days one getting a ticket that inexpensive to fly from London to NYC.
So finally, I flew over the Atlantic Ocean and landed at JFK airport with my bicycle precisely on June 16 of 1982……! Of course, since then I had traveled through many more countries until I returned to NYC and started a different career as a “Lensman”.
Yesterday it was June 16, 2022. it came to me like a flashback as if I arrived in NYC only the other day. Cannot imagine, how those 40 years went by.
5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by radio altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground and help pilots land in low visibility
DUBAI/ NEW YORK (TIP): Major international airlines cancelled flights heading to the US or changed the planes they’re using Wednesday, the latest complication in a dispute over concerns that 5G mobile phone service could interfere with aircraft technology. Some airlines said they were warned that the Boeing 777, a plane used by carriers worldwide, was particularly affected by the new high-speed wireless service. The aircraft is the workhorse for Dubai-based Emirates, a key carrier for East-West travel, and its flight schedule took one of the biggest hits.
It was not clear how disruptive the cancellations would be. Several airlines said they would try to merely use different planes to maintain their service.
The cancellations and changes came a day after mobile phone carriers AT&T and Verizon said they would postpone new wireless service near some US airports planned for this week.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared a number of aircraft to fly into airports with 5G signals, but the Boeing 777 is not on the list.
Similar mobile networks have been deployed in dozens of other countries — sometimes with concessions like reducing the power of the networks near airports, as France has done.
But in the US, the issue has pitted the FAA and the airlines against the Federal Communications Commission and the telecoms companies. The 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by radio altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground and help pilots land in low visibility. The FCC, which set a buffer between the 5G band and the spectrum that planes use, determined that it could be used safely in the vicinity of air traffic. AT&T and Verizon have said their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics.
But FAA officials saw a potential problem, and the telecom companies agreed to a pause while it is addressed.
On Wednesday, Emirates announced it would halt flights to several American cities due to “operational concerns associated with the planned deployment of 5G mobile network services in the US at certain airports.” It said it would continue flights to Los Angeles, New York and Washington.
“We are working closely with aircraft manufacturers and the relevant authorities to alleviate operational concerns, and we hope to resume our US services as soon as possible,” the state-owned airline said.
Of particular concern appears to be the Boeing 777. Emirates only flies that model and the Airbus A380 jumbo jet.
Japan’s All Nippon Airways said that the FAA “has indicated that radio waves from the 5G wireless service may interfere with aircraft altimeters.”
“Boeing has announced flight restrictions on all airlines operating the Boeing 777 aircraft, and we have cancelled or changed the aircraft for some flights to/from the US based on the announcement by Boeing,” ANA said.
It cancelled 20 flights over the issue to cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
Japan Airlines similarly said that it had been informed that 5G signals “may interfere with the radio altimeter installed on the Boeing 777”.
It said it will stop using the model in the continental US for now. Eight of its flights were affected Wednesday — three passenger trips and five for cargo. Taiwan’s EVA Air also said the FAA specifically said 777s may be affected, but it did not spell out how it would adjust its schedule.
But Air France said it planned to continue flying its Boeing 777s into American airports. It did not explain why it didn’t change its aircraft as many other carriers have.
Chicago-based Boeing Co. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Air India also announced on Twitter it would cancel flights to Chicago, Newark, New York and San Francisco because of the 5G issue.
But it also said it would try to use other aircraft on US routes — a course several other airlines took.
Korean Air, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific and Austrian Airlines said they substituted different planes for flights that were scheduled to use 777s. Korean Air spokeswoman Jill Chung said the airline was also avoiding operating some kinds of 747s at affected airports.
Germany’s Lufthansa also swapped out one kind of 747 for another on some US-bound flights.
British Airways cancelled several planned US-bound Boeing 777 flights and changed aircraft on others.
The FAA has said it will allow planes with accurate, reliable altimeters to operate around high-power 5G. But planes with older altimeters will not be allowed to make landings under low-visibility conditions.
Part of the problem, according to the FAA, are the signal strength of the 5G towers and the orientation of their antennae. “Base stations in rural areas of the United States are permitted to emit at higher levels in comparison to other countries which may affect radio altimeter equipment accuracy and reliability,” the FAA said in December.
The FCC’s chairwoman said in a statement that the 5G “deployment can safely co-exist with aviation technologies in the United States, just as it does in other countries around the world.” However, Jessica Rosenworcel urged the FAA to conduct its safety checks with “both care and speed.” AT&T and Verizon spent tens of billions of dollars for the 5G spectrum known as C-Band in a government auction last year.
Choi Jong-yun, a spokeswoman of Asiana Airlines, said the company hasn’t been affected so far because it uses Airbus planes for passenger flights to the US However, Choi raised a new wrinkle, saying airlines have also been instructed by the FAA to avoid automatic landings at affected US airports during bad weather conditions, regardless of plane type. Asiana will redirect its planes to nearby airports during those conditions, she said.
Family rejects offer of compensation; demands punishment to the guilty
November 16, 2021
3.45 PM
I.S. Saluja
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Kamani Bhandari, an 85-year-old lady who is a US Citizen and an OCI card holder had a taste of Air India mismanagement on November 15 when she was denied boarding because the airline said there was no seat available. The lady was having a confirmed seat Number 9F in the Business class. The boarding agent said the seat was defective, and no other seat was available.
Passenger Kamani Bhandari
Kamani Bhandari was booked on Air India Flight AI184 from San Francisco to Delhi, and for onward flight to Jodhpur. She was to fly out on November 15 at 8.30 PM (PT).
After the check-in and obtaining a boarding pass with Business class Seat 9 F the special assistance took her for security check and then to the boarding gate. Meanwhile, the son of Kamani, Sanjay Bhandari, a former President of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) who had come to the airport to see her off left for home,
It was at the boarding gate that a boarding manager informed Kamani Bhandari that she will not be boarding the flight because some seats are unserviceable and because of overbooking, no alternative seat could be found for her. Mrs. Bhandari was taken to the lobby where her luggage was handed over to her.
The worried lady informed her son of the development.
Mr. Prem Bhandari, a well-known Community leader, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA and associated in important capacity with several other organizations called the offices of The Indian Panorama this morning to narrate the story of harassment to the old lady. Mr. Bhandari is known to have helped Air India and Air India passengers on many occasions, particularly during COVID-19. He told the editor that the old lady’s son Mr. Sanjay Bhandari would call him to give the details.
Mr. Sanjay Bhandari narrated the sequence of the event and said Air India offered to send his mother to Delhi by a United Airlines flight on November 16. But then there was no connecting flight available for onward flight to Jodhpur until the 19th, almost 30 hours after her arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport. It meant she was to have over 30 hours’ lay off. It could not have worked for the old lady.
Mr. Sanjay Bhandari got in touch with Anju Sahani, Air India Station Manager for a convenient flight for his mother but found Sahani evasive. Incidentally, Anju Sahani was present at the boarding gate when the boarding manager was telling the lady that she could not go by the flight AI 184 because of non-availability of a seat.
The Indian Panorama editor called Anju Sahani on her number 650-942-3131 at 8 AM (PT) on November 16. The phone was not answered. A message was left in the voice mail detailing the reason for the call and a request was left for a call back. There has been no call back more than 4 hours after the message was left.
The Editor of this newspaper then called Air India Regional Manager Mr. Sunil Daware to have the update. Mr. Daware said he would get back after getting the information. He called back in a few minutes and informed the editor of the arrangements being worked out with the family of Kamani Bhandari to put her on a convenient flight. Mr. Daware said the family preferred to go by an Air India flight to Delhi from where a convenient connecting flight to Jodhpur was available, and that Monday, November 22 was the date they were working on.
Asked if it was not a serious case of mismanagement, Mr. Daware said Air India considers the safety and comfort of passengers of paramount importance, and therefore, when the seat was found to be unserviceable, the passenger was told about non availability of the seat. Asked if the airline will give a compensation to the passenger for the loss of time and inconvenience, Mr. Daware said “Yes, as per regulation”.
Mr. Sanjay Bhandari, Kamani Bhandari’s son said in a note: “They (Air India) said $1550 .00 is the compensation but I never agreed to the amount. My mother already had a Business Class ticket before the incident. This incident has caused so much trauma to my mother that no amount of money can compensate for what Air India has done with her”.
The Bhandari family insists that an inquiry into the incident be held and the guilty be punished.
The Indian Panorama has been told that the incident is not the first of its kind. Air India has earned a certain amount of notoriety for being deficient in providing services and treating passengers rather callously. A friend who is a lifelong friend of Air India admitted that Air India itself is responsible for its doom.
NEW DELHI (TIP): Government of India said, September 15, that it has received multiple financial bids for buying national carrier Air India. Meanwhile, a Tata Sons spokesperson told PTI that it has put in a bid for the airline. “Financial bids for Air India disinvestment received by Transaction Adviser. Process now moves to concluding stage,” DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey tweeted. The government is seeking to sell 100% of its stake in the state-owned national airline, including Air India’s 100% shareholding in AI Express Ltd and 50% in Air India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd. The stake sale process, which began on January 2020, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2021, the government asked potential bidders to put in financial bids. September 15 was the last day for putting in financial bids. Tata Group was among the multiple entities that had put in initial expression of interest (EoI) in December 2020 for buying the Maharaja. With previous attempts since 2017 failing to get any significant interest and after receiving feedback from potential investors, the government had in October last year sweetened the EoI clause relating to transfer of Air India’s debt to the new investor, giving bidders flexibility to decide on the quantum of humongous debt they want to absorb.
As per the Air India EoI floated by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) in January 2020, of the airline’s total debt of ₹60,074 crore as of March 31, 2019, the buyer would be required to absorb ₹23,286.5 crore. The rest would be transferred to Air India Assets Holding Ltd (AIAHL), a special purpose vehicle.
Air India has been in losses ever since its merger with domestic operator Indian Airlines in 2007. The airline, which was formed by the Tatas as a mail carrier in 1932, will give the successful bidder control of 4,400 domestic and 1,800 international landing and parking slots at domestic airports, as well as 900 slots at airports overseas.
Besides, the bidder would get 100% of the low-cost arm Air India Express and 50% of AISATS, which provides cargo and ground-handling services at major Indian airports.
New Delhi (TIP): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, August 12, said the government is doing everything required to support the economy, and urged industry leaders to step up investments and build capacity in domestic chip manufacturing and renewable energy.
The government is pursuing key economic reforms, and doing “rigorous work” to achieve the privatisation plan outlined in the Budget and hope to complete strategic sale of Air India, BPCL, among others, within this fiscal year, she stressed.
Speaking at the CII annual session through a video link, she said the four engines of economic growth — net exports, government expenditure, consumption and investment — are starting to work well to aid the recovery process. The economy is buoyant, in terms of the buoyancy to be seen during recovery-time. “Government is committed to doing everything that it is required to be done for the economy,” she said.
“Growth will have its priority, growth will be given importance and growth will be pushed both by the Reserve Bank and by the government,” she said. While the central bank will take measures to contain inflation, growth is what will make all the difference to economic revival, she said. The minister indicated that the RBI will continue to maintain its accommodative and growth supportive policy. “I am glad that the RBI has been voicing that understanding that too quick a retrieval or sucking out of liquidity from the economy may not be the necessary stimulus that is required and have not given any indication of sucking out the liquidity that is available,” she said, adding that the government and RBI has been working in close coordination.
Boosting sentiment
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying that the government and the RBI will continue to support the economy is aimed at encouraging industrialists to step up investments.
Exports of steel and many others have grown recently, while the Centre has stepped up infrastructure investments. Consumption also has been given the necessary push through various government policies, she argued.
She said the nature of investments has changed, with citizens now more open to invest in the stock markets. It’s the best time for Corporate India to step up risk taking as corporate tax rate has been among the lowest, and there is an opportunity to build capacity for domestic chip manufacturing and in the renewable energy field, she added. Foreign direct investment has been “flowing into India non-stop” due to the belief in sound macroeconomic fundamentals, she said, adding the government was always in agreement with industry on retrospective tax, and once the arbitration verdicts came out, the government was ready with the necessary legal changes to end retrospective tax. Source: The Indian Express
NEW YORK (TIP): Air India has been sued for over $1.2 billion as part of an ongoing dispute between the Indian government and an energy firm. Cairn Energy plans to seize Air India assets in the US to enforce a tax dispute it recently won.
According to Reuters, Cairn Energy has sued Air India to enforce its $1.2 billion tax dispute arbitration victory. The case was filed before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York to make the flag carrier liable for the $1.2bn settlement.
This isn’t the first time Cairn has threatened to seize Air India’s assets. Back in February, the flag carrier began making preparations to avoid losing its aircraft in a legal dispute. However, it seems that the company is pursuing its legal claims against the airline for now.
The argument underpinning this latest case is that Air India is “legally indistinct from the state itself.” This means that the flag carrier can be held liable for the tax judgment and hence open to seizures by the company.
While there is a distinction between the Indian government and Air India, Cairn argues this is a mere technicality since the government wholly owns the airline. They also argue that this technicality only exists to prevent creditors from pursuing the airline.
This situation first arose in December 2020, when the International Court of Justice sided with Cairn in a long-standing tax dispute. This opened the door for the energy company to pursue any Indian asset abroad to fulfill the $1.2 billion award.
Airlines are a popular choice for groups looking for foreign assets to seize. Since aircraft can cost hundreds of millions, they are favorable assets to acquire in disputes. In January, a Pakistan International Airlines 777 was seized in Kuala Lumpur due to unpaid dues. The gambit worked, with PIA reaching an agreement with the lessor in two weeks.
This latest legal filing could be a negotiating tactic to pressure Indian authorities into moving faster on reaching an agreement with Cairn. The image of a company seizing government assets would be a huge blow to the nation’s image and hamper Air India’s operations. Both sides are currently in talks to settle the dispute with minimal noise.
The current legal dispute could even impact Air India’s privatization process. The uncertainty could spook bidders and drive down the price of the airline. Considering how critical this divestment is to the government, expect a relatively speedy resolution to this conflict.
The coming months will tell us more about if Air India’s assets are indeed in danger abroad. Cairn has filed cases in the UK, Netherlands, Canada, and other countries, threatening a vast swath of the airline’s 787s and 777s. For now, keep an eye on this developing situation.
The announcement with customary Indian pomposity of Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians was received with great enthusiasm by everyone looking to return to base. However, a number of hiccups took away the initial cheer of many of them. One was the restrictions on OCI card holders, which seems nearly resolved even though the recent reports coming in from Mumbai speak of OCI card holders facing problems even now.
The chief trouble spot is the fares charged by Air India. It is unforgivable that the Airline, and for that matter, the Civil Aviation ministry, decided to indulge in price gouging at a time when Indians stranded abroad and NRI’s stranded in India were going through harrowing times because of the pandemic.
Imagine, Air India ticket from India to US costing more than Rs. 100,000. The fare used to be Rs. 53,000 in November 2019 and Rs. 61,555 in January 2020. In many cases, actual fares are even higher than those fixed by Air India.
The Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri who a few months ago declared the airline will be shut down if no buyer was found by March, 2020 seems to have decided to let Air India make a little money at the cost of those who are already under strain and stress. In fact, government of India should have been sympathetic and generous enough to repatriate all without asking them to pay the air fare. That would have been a gesture to be admire and be proud of.
The US laws are very clear on price gouging. The administration here has acted tough against those found price gouging. In fact, Air India, too, may be charged with violating the US laws. A US citizen can jolly well file a complaint and have Air India in the docks.
A total of 3,08,200 persons have registered with Indian missions abroad for repatriation on compelling grounds
NEW DELHI / NEW YORK (TIP): The government is planning for phase three of the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ as over three hundred thousand stranded Indians have registered themselves with Indian missions abroad for evacuation on compelling grounds.
The first phase was a modest 64 flights and a couple of sorties by naval ships that brought back over 16,000 Indians. The ongoing second phase that will last till June 16, plans to bring back another one lakh Indians.
So far in phase two, over 45,000 Indians have returned, including about 8,000 migrant workers, 7,656 students and over 5,000 professionals. About 5,000 have returned through land border immigration checkpoints from Nepal and Bangladesh.
“A total of 3,08,200 persons have registered with our missions abroad for repatriation to India on compelling grounds,” said government sources. Unless international flights do not resume, the third phase will mean a logistical exercise that will dwarf phase two.
In the current phase, 429 Air India flights from 60 countries will land in India. Besides, the Indian Navy will make four sorties to bring back returnees from Iran, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The government is also assisting in the return of stranded Indians from remote locations in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and parts of Europe. This is being done by taking advantage of foreign carriers flying to India primarily for the evacuation of their nationals.
Recently, about 300 stranded Indians from Peru, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Portugal and Netherlands were brought in. We will be exploring more such options, said government sources.
Private airlines have now been included and chartered flights have also begun to operate.
“The numbers are expected to go up in the coming days with the permission for chartered flights and more efficient use of quarantine capacity,” said the sources.
The Indian Panorama spoke with some of those returning to India about the air fare, the quarantine on arrival in India, and some other issues. Most passengers complained of excessive fares. On condition of anonymity, a lady said: “I feel cheated by the government of India. I am already passing through a difficult financial situation, having to stay back in the US and spending to support myself and two kids, and then I am asked to pay a much higher price for air tickets than the normal rates I know of. Again, government of India wants all those going from here to India to pay for their stay in the hotels government has approved for quarantine. And the payment for 14 is to be paid upfront. Government of India is not supporting us financially in any way. We are paying for everything.”
Mr. R.P. Sharma (name changed) said the only favor government of India has done is they have arranged the flights and permitted us to be back. He said going by the pronouncements of government of India, it appeared the government was doing a great favor to those stranded abroad. He added, however, he was happy to be getting back.
Mr. Shingara Singh (name changed) from New York said he has been trying to get a ticket but was told by Air India that he will be informed when his turn comes. Asked when he should expect his turn, the officer expressed his ignorance.
LONDON / NEWARK (TIP): An Air India flight from Mumbai to Newark was diverted to London’s Stansted Airport on Thursday June 27 due to a bomb threat, according to authorities. The Boeing 777-337 was escorted by British fighter jets to land in Stansted.
News agency ANI quoted an Air India official to say the bomb threat was a hoax. “Air India 191 Mumbai-Newark flight has landed safely at London and all passengers are safe. Earlier, the flight had made a precautionary landing due to a bomb threat that was declared hoax,” ANI quoted an Air India spokesperson.
Stansted Airport authority said in a statement, “An Air India Boeing 777 “diverted into the airport at 10:15 hrs and landed safely with the Essex Police in attendance. It is parked on an isolated stand away from the normal airport operations. Our runway has now re-opened and is fully operational.”
NEW YORK (TIP): Ms Bhuvana Rao, Air India Regional Manager, Americas, has been promoted as General Manager , Southern Region. She will be based in Chennai overseeing Air India’s operations in the fast-growing Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala as well as Sri Lanka and Maldives. She leaves for India on June 14 and will join her new posting on June 19.
Ms Bhuvana Rao had joined the present position in New York on October 17, 2018, succeeding Ms Vandana Sharma
In a brief parting message to The Indian Panorama, Ms Rao said “During my brief stint in New York, I am happy to have had the privilege of meeting and associating with many diverse and brilliant minds in the business community and the vibrant Indian community in New York. I take with me wonderful memories of the warm interactions and learnings. I look forward to continuing the association in my new capacity in India, which I would be assuming from 19th June.
“I shall be contactable on my official Air India email b.rao@airindia.in and personal email Bhuvana_rao@yahoo.com”.
The Indian Panorama extends Ms Rao the best wishes for a successful and happy future.
NEW YORK (TIP): India’s national carrier Air India announced schedule change for travel to and from Chicago. In its release it stated that effective June 1, 2019, up to June 30, 2019, their daily non-stop flight AI 127/AI 126 Delhi-Chicago-Delhi would operate as Delhi – Stockholm-Chicago -Delhi.
AI 127 departs from Delhi at 22:05 hours (local time) and arrives in Chicago at 07:25 hours (local time) the following day. AI 126 departs from Chicago at 12:00 hours (local time) and arrives in New Delhi at 14:15 hours (local time) the following day.
According to media reports, the debt-laden airline recently decided to discontinue direct flight service between Mumbai and New York. The airline is reportedly discontinuing the flights on this route due to poor demand. It may be noted that direct flights between Mumbai and New York were started by the airline in December last year.
According to reports, the direct flight operation between Mumbai and New York were causing losses to the airline. The carrier operated Mumbai-New York direct flights thrice a week. The operations were temporarily suspended in February when Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian flights and was expected to resume in June but the airline has decided to discontinue the service.
NEW YORK(TIP): Air India has revealed it has boosted its connections to the United States this week by announcing the introduction of three new non-stop flights covering the JFK International to Mumbai route.
As of 7 December of this year the new route, operated by Air India’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, depart at 1105 from JFK on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on 777-300ER planes. They will arrive in Mumbai at 12:10 the following day.
Ms Bhuvana Rao, Air India’s regional head for Americas said, “The additional New York to Mumbai non-stop service reflects the growing popularity of India as a business and leisure destination”.
Commenting on the new route, Bhuvana Rao, Air India’s regional head in the Americas, highlighted how the new flights reflect the growth of India as a hot spot for North American travelers when she said:
“The additional New York to Mumbai non-stop service reflects the growing popularity of India as a business and leisure destination. Our flights are also among the most convenient for passengers travelling beyond Mumbai and Delhi, with customs and immigration formalities completed at the final destination on select connecting flights to major cities across India.”
All flights to India from the US feature convenient transfers onto from the US Indian destinations, such as Bangalore, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune.
The airline already operates a daily service between New York’s most well-known airport and the Indian capital and the new flights will take this coverage from seven flights a week to ten. And, increasing Air India’s total non-stop services from the US to India to the US to 36 nationwide, including Newark-Delhi (daily), Chicago-Delhi (daily), Washington-Delhi (weekly) and San Francisco-Delhi (nine times a week).
To celebrate the launch Air India is offering special fares on the new route, good for travel from 9 December 2018 to 11 May 2019. All of Air India’s non-stop flights from the United States feature first, business, and economy class.
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