Aerospace

Air India launches its first ever non-stop service between Mumbai and San Francisco

Air India Unveils 'Fare Lock' Feature for Hassle-Free Flight Bookings

The nonstop service between Mumbai and San Francisco was launched by Air India on Thursday, according to the minister of civil aviation jyotiraditya Scindia. The flight will operate three times per week.

Air India, India’s leading airline and a Star Alliance member, is spreading its wings further in the United States with the launch of its first-ever non-stop service between Mumbai and San Francisco from 15th December 2022. This closely follows the launch of its three times a-week flight between Bengaluru and San Francisco on 2nd December 2022. This new flight is in line with Air India’s vision to enhance its global footprint and provide the highest levels of
service and convenience to its customers.

Six Boeing 777 aircraft have been leased by Air India for use in operations to various overseas destinations. The aircraft’s cabin is also being renovated, which could increase passenger comfort.

For the first time, a nonstop flight with a distance of nearly 13,000 kilometers took off from the Mumbai airport. In order to continue the strong improvement of the airlines, TATA, which owns Air India, has made some audacious decisions. For the time being, it has ordered some of the 6 wide aircraft for leasing from the western nation.

One of the Boeing 777 airplanes arrived yesterday for the international operation’s passenger service. The majority of the improvements were visible over the seats and the aircraft’s livery as it arrived.

[adinserter block="2"]

Why does a certain airline have a weird paint job? Do they benefit from it in any way? explained. (Opens in a new browser tab)

There are various subtle yet noteworthy changes made by @airindiain to VT-AEF's livery (the 1st of 5 ex – @Delta #B777-200LRs).
Lets see if the #Avgeek's on my timeline are able to spot these changes from these brilliant photos of the #AirIndia LR's by @KadamAnshul #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/tlgVNNgBog
— VT-VLO (@Vinamralongani) December 13, 2022

Air India continues to develop Mumbai as an important hub for international as well as domestic traffic. The launch of the Mumbai-San Francisco route will be followed by Mumbai-New York City (JFK), Mumbai-Frankfurt, and Mumbai-Paris. Additional domestic flights originating from Mumbai will also be added. The flight will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with the newlyinducted Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. This will take Air India’s India-US frequency to 40 non-stop flights

per week. Presently, Air India operates non-stop flights from Mumbai to Newark, from Delhi to New York, Newark, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Chicago, and from Bengaluru to San Francisco. This will be the third Indian city after Delhi and Bengaluru to have a direct flight to San Francisco.

As we can see, the older Maharaja windows are no longer there in the newly arrived aircraft, which also has upgraded seat covers. The aircraft is marked with the Delta name because it was formerly run by the airline. In the case of Air India, they left it as is in order to avoid incurring additional costs for the seats. It entirely depends on the new owner whether they want to stick with the same brand or change that logo sign over the seat.

[adinserter block="1"]

This Is The Most Punctual Airline In The Europe

There are the first interior shots of the Air India Boeing 200 LR aircraft, which previously belonged to Delta. It left the interiors very impressed.

The first flight AI 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco left Mumbai on time at 1430 hrs to arrive in San Francisco at a convenient 1700 hrs (local time) on the same day. The return flight AI 180 will depart from San Francisco at 2100 hrs (local time) to arrive in Mumbai at 0340 hrs+2 days. The Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde graced the virtual inauguration ceremony of the flight. They flagged it off along with Mr. Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Civil Aviation, and Mr. Vinod Hejmadi, Chief of Finance, Air India.

[adinserter block=”3″]

The flight witnessed a grand launch with the auspicious lamp-lighting ceremony followed by cake cutting, ribbon cutting, and handing over the boarding pass to the first passenger to have checked in, at the Boarding Gate of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai by Mr. Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India; in presence of senior officials of Air India, Mumbai Airport, other organizations and passengers. The two senior-most citizens on the flight were also present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Speaking on the new flight launch, Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said, “Today is a historic day for Maharashtra, India, and Air India. The Civil Aviation sector in India is on the cusp of transformation, and India is the third largest civil aviation market in the world with a growth of 10.6% CAGR in the last ten years. Air India has played a significant role in the sector’s transformation in the past and will continue to contribute to the growth of the industry. With Air India’s legacy, culture, and vision, the airline will take Indian Civil Aviation to newer heights.”

Air India Pilot Refused To Listen To Younger Female Co-Pilot & The Plane Landed In A Drain(Opens in a new browser tab)

[adinserter block="3"]

Tata Group, Singapore Airlines In Talks Over Vistara And Air India Integration(Opens in a new browser tab)

More cabin photos of @airindiain 's VT-AEF taken by @deep_choudhuri who flew the aircraft from #Mumbai to #Delhi today.
I love the use of the @TataCompanies logo alongside that of AI and the mood lighting.
This is a fantastic product and a massive upgrade !#AvGeek pic.twitter.com/LJJkCCcRZy
— VT-VLO (@Vinamralongani) December 13, 2022
Advertisement

The new in-flight meal menu that provides a variety of food options has also been improved by Air India, making passengers satisfied with the price they paid for the trip.

Finally here is a video of the economy cabin onboard @airindiain (AI) 's first of 5 ex @Delta #B777-200LRs VT-AEF.
It is evident few changes have been made to the hard product onboard these aircraft. AI passengers would love these LR's.
Thank you @sachmihika !#AvGeek #PaxEx pic.twitter.com/bvRZ9prlW7
— VT-VLO (@Vinamralongani) December 12, 2022

Recently, Air India announced that it is considering purchasing a new wide-body aircraft, including A350 and other narrow-body aircraft which totaled 500 aircraft which is already being discussed with Boeing and Airbus. It carefully selects the décor and seating options for its cabin. Given that it is a full-service airline, emphasis is placed on business class, premium economy, and economy.

One more feather in the cap for @airindiain. Mumbai to San Francisco non-stop. Undoubtedly the fastest medium to reach the USA. @rajeshdogra7 @BanerjiSougata pic.twitter.com/gGwMgU9UVf
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) December 15, 2022
Advertisement

Image and footage courtesy: @Vinamralongani (Twitter) @sachmihika

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.