Aviation

Air India recruits 9,000 employees in two years to support fleet and network growth

Air India has been on an ambitious growth path, and over the past two years, it has hired 9,000 new employees, including 5,000 crew members, to meet the increasing demands of its expanding fleet and network.

Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson shared this news on Friday, highlighting the airline’s steady progress toward its five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI.

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Wilson pointed out that Air India’s domestic market share rose from 24% in FY23 to 27% in FY24, while its international market share climbed from 21% to 24% in the same period. This growth was attributed to an expanding network and service improvements.

“Considering that these results were achieved in the early stages of our transformation program, before many of our initiatives were fully implemented, air india refurbishment it’s encouraging to see the efforts bearing fruit,” Wilson said in a message to staff. He emphasized that the strong momentum has continued well beyond the fiscal year.

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To support this expansion, Air India has launched 35 new routes (10 domestic and 25 international) and added 11 new destinations, including 2 domestic and 9 international locations. The airline currently operates a fleet of 142 aircraft, with significant upgrades underway. A refit of 67 narrow-body planes is in progress, air india wifi plans to retrofit three to four aircraft monthly. The goal is to have the entire narrow-body fleet upgraded by mid-2025.

Wilson also noted that the airline’s 40 legacy Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft are next in line for retrofitting, air india claim miles with new cabin configurations ready for certification and delivery. The airline’s progress in cost reduction, product improvement, and efficiency upgrades is contributing to its financial performance. “Whether it’s strengthening sales, upgrading skills, or bolstering customer loyalty, everything we’re doing is driving us toward success,” Wilson added.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.