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Mumbai, Jan 25 () Air India's regional arm Alliance Air said on Saturday it will commence from Monday its flight service to Jharsuguda in Odisha from Kolkata.
The daily direct flight services on the Kolkata-Jharsuguda-Kolkata sector will be operated under the central government's regional connectivity scheme Udan, the airline said in a release.
Alliance Air will deploy its 70-seater ATR 72 600 aircraft on the new sector, it added.
The airline also announced all-inclusive one-way fares of Rs 2,758 for travel on the new route, as per the release. IAS MKJ

Alliance Air to commence Kolkata-Jharsuguda flight service from Jan 27

Global aviation IT firm The Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques (SITA) has completed the technical requisites for <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword>’s system integration with that of <keyword id="137192" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Star-Alliance">Star Alliance</keyword>, including those concerning ticketing, e-commerce, departure control and revenue integrity. 
 
SITA also provided its Horizon Passenger Services System (PSS) suite of solutions for Air India to seamlessly integrate with the global airlines' grouping. 
 
The PSS suite consists of technological solutions for various purposes like integrating reservations, frequent flyer programmes etc. 
 
SITA CEO Francesco Violante said Air India's entry into the alliance was "achieved in record time" and Air India would "now be able to offer passengers a seamless travel experience across the Star Alliance network around the world."

SITA Completes Technical Requirements For
AI’s Integration With Star Alliance

NEW DELHI: <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> (AI) is all set to join the world's largest airline grouping company— <keyword id="137192" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Star-Alliance">Star Alliance</keyword>, this June, making it the first airline company from India to be part of a global chain of carriers. The move, according to AI CMD Rohit Nandan, will bring immense benefits to Indian fliers from day one as they will be able to earn-and-burn miles, get access to lounges across the globe and enjoy seamless connectivity across the globe. 
 
"Almost all the requirements for joining Star are complete. Some work, mostly related to IT, will be completed by mid-May. Then we are set," said Nandan. 
 
Star Alliance CEO Mark F Schwab said that the CEOs of Star's member airlines will meet in London on June 22 or 23 to have an endorsement vote on AI's entry into the fold. "Once all airline endorse the move, AI should be in Star by July. We conducted a safety review of AI and are very pleased with the results. We are very happy with the progress made by AI," the CEO said. 
 
Star had put AI's entry on hold three years back due to apprehensions expressed by other carriers. Asked what had changed from then, Schwab said: "It's a very different AI. They have been through a difficult merger process. But they have a strong management team that led to substantial improvements in the airline," said Schwab, while complimenting the leadership of Nandan — AI's first successful CMD in years. 
 
While AI has shown improvement, the fact remains Star desperately needed a member from India to take on the ever-increasing might of Gulf carriers. Together, Emirates and Etihad will soon transfer the real hubs of Indian travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively. 
 
To effectively counter this challenge, AI will now tweak its schedules to become more attractive for passengers and wean them away from the Gulf carriers. "AI will tweak its schedules to align their flight timings with those of the 13 Star members which currently fly into India. A similar attempt will be made to provide seamless connectivity at foreign airports also by coordinating arrival and departure of flights with schedules of other Star members," Schwab said. 
 After becoming a part of Star, it will be expected to deliver service standards that its counterparts like <keyword id="6368386" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Singapore-Airlines">Singapore Airlines</keyword> and <keyword id="71561" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lufthansa">Lufthansa</keyword>, AI is working on that front — something which has not been its core strength in past two decades. "We have asked IATA to undertake quarterly passenger satisfaction surveys and have undertaken a customer service improvement program with Star. The results are encouraging and we are focusing on few areas where the survey shows we need improvement. We have also started taking direct passenger surveys and get about 900 responses daily," said Nandan. The quality of inflight entertainment programming needs improvement while passengers expressed satisfaction with hardware areas like seat comfort, leg room and meals. "We are aiming to delight our guests. AI has what it takes to be among the best airlines in the world and it will get there," said Nandan. 
 
Star Alliance is the largest of the three big networks in the world, followed by OneWorld and SkyTeam. Star's market share is 26%, thanks to having 26 member airlines with almost 22,000 daily flights to 1,328 airports in 195 countries. 
 
India remains crucial for global airlines as it is the fastest growing international travel market in the world. Currently, 37 million passengers fly in and out of India a year, a figure growing in double digits constantly for over a decade now — even during the global slowdown. While Indian carriers have a 33% market share, Gulf carriers account for 17%. 
 
Star has a 13% share of the international traffic to and from India. The British Airways-led OneWorld and Air France-KLM-led SkyTeam have 8% share each. Clearly with a whopping 71% market share of the world's fastest growing international travel market going to airlines not part of any alliance, the three biggies are desperate to get a share of this pie.

Air India To Join Star Alliance In July

The top brass of <keyword id="137192" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Star-Alliance">Star Alliance</keyword> will meet in London today (Monday) to take a decision on inducting <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> into the 26-member global airlines' group which, if okayed, would facilitate seamless travel to more than 1,200 destinations for the national carrier. 
 
It is likely that Star Alliance chief executive board (CEB) would endorse the induction of Air India, paving the way for the integration of all its systems, including ticket booking and flight scheduling, into the global network. 
 
The membership would also end Air India's seven-year wait to access the alliance's global network of more than 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports across 193 countries. The member airlines of Star Alliance together own 4,338 aircraft and carry 640 million passengers a year. 
 
The induction is also expected to have several benefits for the airline and its passengers like an increase in Air India's share on the India-US route by 20% from 13% at present. 
 Earlier, Star Alliance CEO <keyword id="356444" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mark-Schwab">Mark Schwab</keyword> had said it had long held that India was such an important aviation market that it should be fully represented. 
 
Observing that the Indian market was now showing signs of recovery, he had said, “Today we see an Air India which has successfully merged with Indian Airlines and is building up a new fleet that forms the basis for a much improved level of service." 
 
The national carrier was accepted as a future member of Star Alliance in December 2007. But the integration process was deferred in July 2011 to allow Air India to focus on completing its merger with Indian Airlines before inducting it into the alliance network.

Star Alliance Top Brass To Meet Today To Decide
On Inducting Air India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>NATO's biggest ever air exercise is happening in Germany.</li><li>The drill is aimed at sending a "clear message," the alliance said, noting it is a "more dangerous world."</li></ul>A massive NATO show of strength is underway as the alliance faces daunting security challenges amid Russia's war in Ukraine, a conflict entering a new phase.Around 10,000 personnel and 250 aircraft, including about 100 from the US, are in Germany for the alliance's two-week Air Defender exercise. The big exercise involves armed forces from two dozen NATO countries and Japan."Air Defender sends a clear message that NATO is ready to defend every inch of Allied territory," said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu <a href="https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_215611.htm?selectedLocale=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a statement</a> Monday. "Air Defender is necessary because we live in a more dangerous world" and the NATO alliance is facing "the biggest security crisis in a generation."The large military exercise has been planned for around five years and is not a reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but a US official noted that Russian leadership is likely taking note."This is an exercise that would be absolutely impressive to anybody watching," US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4VL-APleIg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a press briefing</a> last week."I would be pretty surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance," she said. "And that includes Mr. Putin."<div type="image" title="US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the 127th Wing, Michigan National Guard are parked on Jagel Air Base, Germany, June 7, 2023 in preparation of exercise Air Defender 2023" height="4235" width="6352" msid="100945892" hostid="261"></div>German Air Force Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, who is overseeing the NATO air exercise and first proposed it in 2018, has said that "the trigger" for him "back then was the capture, the annexation of Crimea," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/12/world/europe/nato-air-exercises-drills-germany.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to The New York Times</a>.Russia seized control of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 while fueling a brutal fight between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces that has raged for years in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region. In 2022, Russia attacked again, this time launching a full-scale invasion.Russia's assaults have so far failed to achieve their intended objectives, and a Ukrainian counteroffensive operation is presently underway as Kyiv's forces <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-facing-tough-battles-but-can-still-hammer-russian-lines-2023-6">press Russian lines</a> with an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-counteroffensive-western-weapons-dangerous-time-tough-russian-defenses-2023-6">arsenal of Western weaponry</a>, including heavy armor.How the offensive plays out <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-optimism-defeat-western-made-tanks-premature-ukraine-war-2023-6">remains to be seen</a>.As for the NATO air exercise, the drill will focus on protecting NATO cities and critical infrastructure, which Russia has attacked repeatedly throughout the war in Ukraine, from aircraft, drones, and missile attacks.

Facing its 'biggest security crisis' in years, NATO has kicked off its largest ever air drill with hundreds of aircraft to send a 'clear message'

Mumbai, Apr 1 () As many as 74 flights have been operated, carrying a total medical cargo of 37.63 tonnes, till March 31 to various parts of the country under the civil aviation ministry's Lifeline Udan flights initiative, an official release said on Wednesday.These flights had commenced operations from March 27.Of the 74 services, 12 flights were operated on March 31 alone, carrying a total medical cargo of 22 tonnes, the ministry said.Air India operated a total of nine flights while two services were flown by its regional subsidiary Alliance Air and one by the Indian Air Force, the release said.Air India flights on Mumbai-New Delhi -Guwahati-Mumbai route carried consignments of Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Pune while its services on New Delhi-Hyderabad-Trivandrum-Goa-Delhi route carried consignments of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, ICMR and Goa.The national carrier also operated services to Port Blair from Chennai and back, it said.Alliance Air carried medical cargo consignment of the Textiles Ministry through its services on Hyderabad-Bengaluru-Hyderabad route, the ministry said in the release adding the IAF operated a medical cargo service to Port Blair via Sulur from its Hindon airbase.Air India and IAF collaborated for Ladakh, Dimapur, Imphal, Guwahati and Port Blair flights, it added. IAS SHWMR

74 flights under Udan scheme operated for medical supplies

Mumbai, Mar 31 () The government on Tuesday announced setting up of a "cargo air-bridge" between India and China, and said that regular cargo flights for transporting critical medical supplies between the two countries are likely to be operated by Air India from April 3. In an official release, the civil aviation ministry also said it has operated as many as 62 cargo services in the past five days, starting March 26, under its recently launched 'Lifeline Udan flights' initiative, transporting over 15.4 tonnes of essential medical supplies. The initiative is aimed at ferrying medical and essential supplies from one place to another across the country. "On the international front, Air India has established a cargo air-bridge between India and China. Regular cargo flights for transporting critical medical equipment and supplies between the two countries are likely to be operated by Air India from April 3, 2020 onwards," the ministry said. The Lifeline Udan flights are being operated using the hub-and-spoke model, with New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata serving as the four hubs. Of the 62 flights, as many as 45 flights have been operated by the flag carrier Air India and its regional arm, Alliance Air, while the rest 17 by the Indian Air Force and private carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet, the release said. It also said Air India and IAF collaborated for operating Lifeline Udan services to Ladakh. Private carriers like IndiGo, Spicejet and BlueDart are operating medical cargo flights on a commercial basis, it stated. The lifeline cargo includes COVID-19-related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves and other accessories required by "Corona Warriors" across the country. The carriers involved in Lifeline Udan operations include Air India, Alliance Air, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pawan Hans, the release said adding that it is also getting support from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and its cargo and logistics subsidiary AAICLAS, AI Airports Services (AIASL), PPP airports and private ground handling entities, among others. The civil aviation ministry and all aviation stakeholders are determined to support India's war against COVID-19 by transporting essential medical supplies by air in the most efficient, seamless and cost-effective manner, it said. IAS HRS

Govt sets up 'cargo air-bridge' between India, China

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">ReutersPresident Donald Trump with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office, November 13, 2019.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Turkey's October incursion in Syria further strained ties with the US that have frayed for months over Ankara's purchase of a Russian-made air-defense system.</li><li>Those disputes add to longstanding rifts in NATO, which relies on Turkey as a major player in a strategically important region.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>The White House meeting this month between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yielded no progress on two major issues dogging the long-time allies.Ankara has spurned US demands that it not activate its Russian-made S-400 air-defense system, and it isn't backing down from its incursion in Syria that the US and others have criticized.Despite that strife, however, NATO officials have maintained that the alliance is strong."Turkey has been an important ally of that alliance since the mid-1950s. That situation has not changed. The geostrategic reasons for Turkey's membership have not changed ... and [it] plays a full role in the NATO command structure," Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach of the UK's Royal Air Force, who heads the NATO Military Committee, said this month at a <keyword id="6354810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="defense">Defense</keyword> Writer's Group breakfast in Washington, DC.But with the S-400 purchase alone, NATO is "already skirting going beyond that definitive shift" in intra-alliance relations, according to Omar Lamrani, senior military analyst at the geopolitical analysis firm Stratfor.Turkey arming itself with Russian weaponry would erode "interoperability, which is quite necessary ... to work with other NATO members and to have a combined focus and combined objective," Lamrani said.Turkey doesn't need to leave NATO to weaken it. Just a lack of Turkish cooperation could undermine the alliance in a strategically important region.

The US dispute with Turkey over Russian weapons could mean more problems on NATO's 'most troublesome' front

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11916600" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sweden" source="Orion">Sweden</keyword> and <keyword id="12047793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="finland" source="Orion">Finland</keyword> applied to join NATO in May, and the alliance is moving quickly to admit them.</li><li>The two countries already have a close relationship with the military alliance.</li></ul>As Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO moves ahead quickly, the alliance's already tight partnership with the <keyword id="11908389" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nordic" source="Orion">Nordic</keyword> countries was on display in the skies over Northern Europe in early June.On June 2, the Swedish and Finnish air forces drilled with their British, French, German, Norwegian, and Belgian counterparts along Norway's western coast.Some 45 aircraft participated in the exercise, which was meant to demonstrate the ability to conduct complex air operations over long distances.<div type="image" title="German Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet KC-135 tanker" height="1333" width="2000" msid="92584137" hostid="261"></div>The chief of the Norwegian air force <a href="https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2022/06/three-nations-one-mission-new-nato-north">said</a> it was "the first time we are conducting such an advanced exercise with NATO and partner nations, which also includes Sweden and Finland."From June 5 to June 17, Finnish and Swedish forces joined the militaries of 14 NATO members, including the US, for Baltic Operations 2022. The 51st iteration of the maritime-focused exercise involved more than 45 ships, more than 75 aircraft, and 7,500 personnel.During one drill, a US Air Force KC-135 tanker <a href="https://www.c6f.navy.mil/Press-Room/News/Article/3059891/usafe-integrates-with-arctic-fighters-during-exercise-baltic-operations/">refueled</a> US, Finnish, Swedish, and German jets, allowing them to keep operating over the Baltic.<h2>Scandinavian skies</h2><div type="image" title="Finland F/A-18 Sweden JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet" height="965" width="1714" msid="92584138" hostid="261"></div>The June exercises demonstrated not only the strong relationship Finland and Sweden have with their NATO neighbors but also their own considerable military capabilities, which are poised to significantly strengthen NATO's air component and deterrence in the north.Finland operates a fleet of 55 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornets, which it acquired in the 1990s. Despite its age, the single-seat F/A-18C is capable aircraft and can quickly switch <a href="https://www.military.com/equipment/f-18c-d-hornet">between fighter and attack configurations</a>. It is also operated by the US Navy and Marine Corps and numerous US allies, and it has seen combat in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans.Finland's <a href="https://www.defmin.fi/en/frontpage/administrative_branch/strategic_capability_projects/hx_fighter_program/hx_fighter_program">Ministry of Defense</a> has said its Hornets will be decommissioned by 2030, making way for the 64 F-35As that Helsinki ordered in December in the country's biggest military procurement on record. Its first F-35 is scheduled for delivery by 2026.<div type="image" title="Finland F-18 F-35 fighter jet" height="1333" width="2000" msid="92584139" hostid="261"></div>The fifth-generation F-35A <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/militaries-in-europe-are-buying-the-f35-fighter-jet-2022-2?op=1">is increasingly popular</a> among US allies. The stealth jet can act as a fighter or attack platform and use its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to enhance the effectiveness of friendly air and ground forces.Sweden's only <keyword id="12004878" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fighter-jet" source="Orion">fighter jet</keyword> is the Saab <keyword id="14334850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jas-39" source="Orion">JAS 39</keyword> <keyword id="14334851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gripen" source="Orion">Gripen</keyword>, a domestically designed and built aircraft that is less advanced but highly effective."The Gripen doesn't have the stealth of an F-35 or the brain-mashing performance of an F-15, but it's a reliable and cost-effective aircraft that brings a number of important capabilities into the fight," the aviation analyst and <a href="https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/author/alexhollings/">Sandboxx editor in chief</a> Alex Hollings told Insider.The Gripen is also versatile. Its small size allows it to "take off and land on austere airstrips or even highways while carrying extremely effective air-to-air weapons" like the <a href="https://www.mbda-systems.com/product/meteor/">Meteor</a> and <a href="https://www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/what-we-do/air-warfare/air-to-air-missiles/amraam-missile">AMRAAM missiles</a>, Hollings said.The Swedish jet is one of the few fighters in service that can supercruise, maintaining supersonic speeds without dumping fuel into its afterburner. That increases an aircraft's endurance at supersonic speeds by lowering its fuel consumption, allowing it to fly faster and carry less fuel.<div type="image" title="Swedish Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen" height="1004" width="1339" msid="92584140" hostid="261"></div>The US-made F-22, the French-built Dassault Rafale, and the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon are the only other jets that can supercruise. None of Russia's jets have the capability.The Gripen program has had controversy, Hollings said, referring <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/swedens-jas39-gripen-may-be-worlds-best-nonstealth-fighter-jet-2021-11">to allegations of fraud</a> in some of its foreign sales, but it was designed to be "easy to fly, inexpensive to maintain, and quick to adopt upgrades and that all makes for a handy jet to have around in a fight," he added.Though it has never seen combat, the Swedish jet has proved its worth in exercises. Notably, during the first day of a major US-led exercise in Alaska in 2016, it scored 10 kills against peer aircraft, including a 4.5-generation Eurofighter Typhoon, <a href="https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2021/01/07/gripen/">without suffering a casualty</a>.Sweden's air force operates 71 Gripen Cs and has ordered 70 Gripen Es, an upgrade over the C model, to be delivered by 2027.<h2>Building the best team</h2><div type="image" title="Air Force B-52 F-16 Eurofighter‬ ‎Typhoon fighter jet" height="1330" width="2000" msid="92584141" hostid="261"></div>Despite their capabilities, integrating two air forces with a combined fighter fleet of 126 aircraft into NATO operations won't be simple.Though both the F/A-18C and the Gripen are used by other NATO members, tactical integration is achieved through frequent joint exercises, like the ones conducted in June."There are always challenges inherent to mixing national air forces and the platforms they operate," Hollings told Insider. "Once you work through interoperability (in terms of both technology and tactics), a mix of aircraft becomes a potent tool in a large-scale fight."Increasing the variety of aircraft in NATO will give the alliance a tactical advantage.<div type="image" title="Fighter jets tanker aircraft over Norway Arctic" height="1280" width="1920" msid="92584142" hostid="261"></div>"Fighters operate a bit like cage fighters, in that pilots want to play to the strengths of their own aircraft and the weaknesses of the opponent's," Hollings said. "When you head into a fight with a variety of fighters at your disposal, each playing to their respective strengths, you really complicate the combat calculus for your opponent."F-35As and Gripen Es are set to make Finland's and Sweden's air forces more capable, but even without those advanced jets, NATO leaders are eager to have Finnish and Swedish forces in the alliance.Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who is set to take over as head of US European Command and as supreme allied commander Europe in July, said during his <a href="https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/nomination_-cavoli">nomination hearing</a> in May that the Finnish and Swedish militaries would bring "quite a bit of capability and capacity to the alliance from day one."He added that he looked "forward to the accession of Finland and Sweden to the alliance from a military perspective."Constantine Atlamazoglou works on transatlantic and European security. He holds a master's degree in security studies and European affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. You can contact him on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/constantine-atlamazoglou" target="_blank" title="LinkedIn" rel="noopener">LinkedIn</a>.

As Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids move forward, the alliance is already eyeing their fighter jets

In order to be at par with the members of <keyword id="137192" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Star-Alliance">Star Alliance</keyword>, the world's largest alliance of airlines, like Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> is upgrading its business and first class facilities at a considerable expense from July 11. 
 
But it needs to stop free upgrades that politicians, bureaucrats and other influential people and their kin have been enjoying for years by buying the economy class tickets and getting upgraded to the business or first class. Unless this practice of free upgrades is stopped, all the expenses incurred on the overhaul would be wasted. 
 Introducing the uber luxury in premium classes includes a complete revamp of meal service with Oberoi, one of the country's finest in-flight caterers, being asked to serve three-course meals on all international flights. The first and <keyword id="121626" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Business-Class">business class</keyword> travellers will also be given a red carpet treatment at India’s five major airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. 
 
“Catering for first and business class will be done by Oberoi from July 11 on our international flights. Both meal content and presentation will get an upgrade. Business class will now have a three-course meal instead of the current practice of serving everything — starter, meal and dessert — in one go,” said Air India chief Rohit Nandan. 
 The <keyword id="53054" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aviation-ministry">Aviation Ministry</keyword> gets dozens of letters every day for upgradation. “All aviation ministers have routinely obliged fellow politicos and the ministry's bureaucrats have similarly helped fellow babus and their families. Our own staff feels belittled if not accommodated in the premium classes — a section of pilots went on strike on this issue! This needs to be checked now," said an official. 
 
Air India can no more afford to have a casual approach on in-flight service standards, aircraft cleanliness and on-time performance. The Star Alliance membership is as much a challenge for Air India as an opportunity to revive itself.

Air India’s First, Business Class Overhaul A Waste Unless Free Upgrades Are Checked

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12110951" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="allegiant-air" source="Orion">Allegiant Air</keyword> and <keyword id="12670250" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="viva-aerobus" source="Orion">Viva Aerobus</keyword> announced plans to enter into the first ultra-low-cost international alliance.</li><li>The venture will allow the <keyword id="11898285" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="airlines" source="Orion">airlines</keyword> to expand their networks in the US and <keyword id="11933000" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mexico" source="Orion">Mexico</keyword> via codesharing.</li></ul>On Thursday, Las Vegas-based <keyword id="12466133" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="allegiant" source="Orion">Allegiant</keyword> Air and Mexico-based Viva Aerobus announced they have filed a <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOT-OST-2021-0152-0001">joint application with the US Department of Transportation</a> to create an international alliance.<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allegiant-viva-aerobus-announce-first-of-its-kind-commercial-alliance-agreement-301434649.html">In a press release from Allegiant</a>, the pair shared their plans to enter into a "fully-integrated Commercial Alliance Agreement," pending permission from the <keyword id="11895429" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dot" source="Orion">DOT</keyword> and approval for antitrust immunity.Antitrust immunity allows carriers in a joint venture to collude on routes included in the agreement, meaning they can modify prices and earn profits, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/atr/antitrust-immunity-and-international-airline-alliances">according to the Department of Justice</a>. Currently, there are 14 active antitrust alliances <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/office-policy/aviation-policy/dot-aviation-anti-trust-immunity-cases">approved by the DOT</a>, like United Airlines and Germany-based Lufthansa; Delta and UK-based Virgin Atlantic; and American and Australia-based Qantas.Joining as a team, the duo will be able to coordinate their airline operations, including their data systems, loyalty programs, marketing, scheduling, and routes. The alliance will enable Allegiant, which does not currently fly to Mexico, to offer flights to Mexican leisure hotspots.Meanwhile, Viva Aerobus will be able to add several routes to popular destinations in the US where Allegiant has a strong presence, like Las Vegas and Orlando. According to Allegiant, Viva Aerobus will have access to the Las Vegas-based airline's distribution network and point-of-sale process.<div type="image" title="Allegiant Air and Viva Aerobus' prospective 5-year route map." height="762" width="1016" msid="88092756" hostid="261"></div>Allegiant said in a press release that the pair intends the alliance to start in the first quarter of 2023, offering nonstop flights on routes that currently only have connecting service. However, there is one caveat. In May 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Mexico to a Category 2 country, meaning airlines cannot create new service or routes, though that is still subject to change by the time the alliance begins. According to Allegiant, there are over 250 potential routes that have been identified in the DOT application. Allegiant and Viva Aerobus are two individual ultra-low-cost carriers that, according to Allegiant, cannot independently create the network or meet the same level of customer benefit that the alliance will offer."Allegiant and Viva Aerobus operating together will be a tremendous win for consumers seeking affordable, nonstop <keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">travel</keyword> between the US and Mexico," Allegiant CEO Maurice Gallagher said. "This groundbreaking alliance should reduce fares, stimulate traffic, and ultimately link many new trans-border cities with nonstop service. In short, it will bring meaningful ULCC competition to the US-Mexico market for the first time in history."Allegiant said in a statement that it has invested $50 million into Viva Aerobus and Gallagher is planning to join the Mexican carrier's Board of Directors, subject to the approval of the Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission.<div type="image" title="Allegiant Chairman and CEO Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. and Viva Aerobus Chief Executive Officer Juan Carlos Zuazua." height="334" width="445" msid="88092759" hostid="261"></div>"This unique ULCC alliance will create new non-stop connectivity and more competition, strengthening the immense Hispanic VFR market and offering amazing holiday get-aways for residents of both nations," Viva Aerobus CEO Juan Carlos Zuazua said.According to Allegiant, the agreement between it and Viva Aerobus will, if approved, be the first ultra-low-cost international alliance in the airline industry. There are two low-cost alliances currently operating in the world, including U-Fly, a collection of airlines from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and South Korea, and the Value Alliance that consists of five Asia-Pacific airlines.Low-cost and ultra-low-cost airlines differ because ULCCs provide fewer amenities and charge more fees than traditional low-cost carriers, therefore offering even lower fares, <a href="https://www.johnnyjet.com/ask-a-pilot-low-cost-vs-ultra-low-cost-airlines/">according to airline pilot Spencer Marker</a>.

The world's first ultra-low-cost international airline alliance is on the horizon as 2 budget carriers team up to bring cheap fares between Mexico and the US

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The world's first ultra-low-cost international airline alliance is on the horizon as 2 budget carriers team up to bring cheap fares between Mexico and the US

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