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.

This airline will be billed $790 for each customer complaint resolved

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.

Mukesh Ambani is buying an aircraft worth Rs 1,000 crore

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

Did you know ? Once Boeing 747 carried 1088 passenger in 1991

In 1991, during Operation Solomon, Israel aimed to airlift 14,000 people from Ethiopia within 36 hours. The effort was intense, with a strong focus on evacuating as many individuals as possible from the country.

At the forefront of this operation was the Boeing 747, known as the “Queen of the Skies,” which transported nearly 1,088 passengers.

Due to the urgent circumstances, all passengers were seated on the aircraft floor, despite the Boeing’s typical maximum capacity being around 660 passengers as per manufacturer specifications.

The aircraft was granted special approval to take off under these exceptional conditions.

Amid political tensions and military reforms in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government requested the Jewish community to leave the country, providing them with a limited window for evacuation. In response, the community organized an airlift to facilitate their safe departure.

A fleet of 35 Israeli aircraft, including C-130s from the Israeli Air Force and El Al Boeing 747s, was deployed for the mission. These aircraft flew non-stop, successfully transporting most of the Ethiopian Jewish community to Israel in one of the largest airlift operations in history.