Airlines

Qantas Launches $10M Regional Grants Program – Applications Open

Qantas Introduces new Group Boarding Inspired by US Practices

Qantas is inviting regional community groups across Australia to apply for a share of $10 million as part of its grants program, which opened today.

The Qantas Regional Grants program will provide a total of $10 million in grants over five years – $2 million each year – to support Australian-based not-for-profit community groups and projects that benefit regional areas. The grants include a combination of flights, cash and marketing support, and will be determined by a panel made up of Qantas management and community group representatives.

Alaska Airlines donates a plane to Portland Community College(Opens in a new browser tab)

Applications open today and will close on 9 May 2023. Successful recipients will be announced in June 2023.

Qantas Regional Grants program was launched in 2019, with the first year of funding distributed among 20 community groups from every state and territory from more than 1,200 applications. The program was paused when the airline was effectively grounded by the pandemic.

Some of the previous recipients included:

Lifeline Central West (NSW) which supports individuals and communities across the Central West region by providing them with access to online, phone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Country to Canberra (ACT) which empowers young rural women to reach their leadership potential and provides advocacy and education opportunities.
Fair Game Australia (WA) which collects and distributes pre-loved sports equipment, along with providing health and fitness education to young people in Australia’s most remote communities.
Red Dust Role Models (NT) which works with remote Indigenous communities to create stronger futures for youth and their families.
AgBiz Assist Ltd (VIC) which provides financial counselling to farmers, fishing enterprises, forestry growers and small rural-related businesses experiencing financial hardship.
Outback Watersports Club Inc (Outback Paddle Regatta Festival) (QLD) which partnered with their local community to bring the Outback Paddle Regatta Festival to life again in 2020. The event showcases the outback Queensland and the Thomson River.
Ten Days on the Island Ltd (TAS) which is Tasmania’s biennial international arts festival, presenting new work from Tasmania’s leading artists alongside the work of the world’s most exciting creative practitioners.

Details of all the previous grant recipients can be found here.

Qantas is Australia’s largest regional airline, connecting more than 50 regional communities with capital cities. Since the start of the pandemic, Qantas has launched 38 new regional routes providing even more tourism and economic opportunities for regional Australia.

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.