Airlines

Etihad offloads US-bound passengers, Indian students pay over two lakh for new tickets on other airlines

Numerous passengers, the majority of whom were students, who made reservations to travel to the US on Thursday from places similar to Mumbai and Bengaluru had their flights offloaded and their reservations cancelled by Etihad Airways. The airline allegedly refused to rebook the students on other flights with departure dates in the coming days. Since semesters are about to begin, the students have no choice but to pay out nearly two lakh rupees for a last-minute, one-way ticket on other carriers.

The cheapest one-way flight from Mumbai to the US for travel this week started at Rs. 1.40 lakh, but these flights were almost 27 hours long. The majority of tickets cost over Rs 2 lakh. The Abu Dhabi-New York flight operated by Etihad followed the same route and used the same type of aircraft, the A350, for a nearly comparable flight time. Abu Dhabi’s floor temperature wasn’t higher than usual. But over the last two days, its flights have started leaving late. On August 2, and again on August 3, Etihad’s EY101 aircraft from Abu Dhabi to New York took off with a five- and two-hour delay, respectively. Only one hour was added to the Thursday flight’s delay.

In order to minimise the inconvenience to the impacted customers, Etihad claimed that its groups are reaching out to advise them about the refused boarding. “We regret any difficulty caused by this last-minute change, and we will be providing compensation to anyone affected,” it said, adding that affected passengers should call their contact centre or visit their website or mobile app.

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Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

Soon, Air India aircraft will feature onboard WiFi & all-new cabins: Click here

“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

Air India’s First A350-900: Interior, Routes, &Inflight Features: Click here

This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.