Airlines

Emirates unveils world-first robotic check-in assistant at DIFC

Emirates is set to launch a new City Check-in and Travel Store in the centre of Dubai’s thriving financial sector, giving consumers the convenience of booking travel, checking in for flights, dropping off luggage, shopping for travel necessities, and saving time at the airport. The cutting-edge facility, which is located in the prestigious ICD Brookfield Place in the DIFC, will start taking visitors on April 27.

The City Check-in and Travel Store, which is located in the financial district of Dubai, has a prime and premium location for busy professionals and enables customers to check their bags up to 4 hours before a flight, allowing them to arrive at the airport at their convenience. This is just one example of Emirates’ ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience.

Customers can visit the location and check in at any time between 8:00am and 10:00pm daily. They can start their travel experience with seamless service at self-check-in kiosks, at designated desks with Emirates agents or with Sara, the first check-in robot assistant in history.

Sara is a cutting-edge portable robotic check-in system that can recognise faces from scanned passports, register travellers, and direct them to the luggage drop location. The City Check-in and Travel Store is a stylish and roomy contemporary space that offers the chance to book tickets, browse travel goods, drop luggage and check-in. Paid valet parking and self-parking ensure an elevated, hassle-free check-in experience for Emirates passengers. It also features a striking 2.5 metre LCD screen showing the most recent destination content from Emirates, as well as additional screens showing an interactive touchscreen map.

Around the DIFC, visitors can enjoy a diverse range of services, shopping, world-class cuisine, and art galleries, including the extensive promenade at DIFC’s Gate Avenue.

Airlines

Air India to Launch aircraft maintenance training institute in Bengaluru

Air India, one of India’s leading global airlines, is set to establish a Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) in Bengaluru.

This institute will offer a comprehensive Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The program will follow an integrated 2+2 year structure, combining classroom learning with practical, hands-on training.

This initiative is part of Air India’s broader goal of creating a robust aviation ecosystem in India. With plans to expand its fleet and strengthen its operations, the airline aims to build a skilled workforce of maintenance engineers, making the organization self-reliant while supporting its ambitious transformation journey.

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To bring this vision to life, air india has partnered with Bengaluru Airport City Limited (BACL), a subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL). Together, they will develop a state-of-the-art facility spanning 86,000 square feet at Bengaluru Airport City.

This purpose-built campus will feature modern classrooms, well-equipped laboratories, and qualified trainers to deliver world-class education and training. The institute is expected to become operational by mid-2026.

The BMTO will be located close to Air India’s new 12-bay Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, also set to open in Bengaluru by early 2026. The AME program will begin with two years of academic coursework, followed by two years of practical training at the MRO, ensuring students receive hands-on experience adhering to industry standards.

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In the meantime, Air India has introduced a Cadet AME program in collaboration with reputable institutions in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

This ensures continuity in its commitment to developing skilled aircraft maintenance engineers while the BMTO facility is under construction. The program also allows students to pursue a bachelor’s degree through university partnerships, enhancing their career and academic opportunities.

With this initiative, air india plane aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in aircraft maintenance and engineering, air india new planes contributing to the development of India’s aviation sector and creating specialized career paths for aspiring engineers.