Saudia and Air India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening their strategic partnership and expanding air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and India.

The agreement builds on the airlines' existing codeshare partnership and outlines plans to explore deeper cooperation across network integration, terminal co-location, operational coordination and commercial initiatives. The carriers will also assess opportunities to develop partnerships between their respective loyalty programmes.

As part of the MoU, Saudia and Air India will evaluate extending collaboration to other airlines within their groups, including flyadeal and Air India Express, to support growing passenger demand and improve connectivity across their combined networks.

Saudia Group Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar said India remains a key market for the airline and described Air India as an important partner in strengthening travel links between the two countries. He said the expanded cooperation would provide passengers with greater choice, increased flexibility and more seamless travel while creating new opportunities for operational and commercial collaboration.

Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said the growing relationship between India and Saudi Arabia presents significant opportunities for aviation to strengthen business, tourism and people-to-people links. He added that the partnership would help both airlines deliver greater value to customers while supporting their long-term growth strategies.

Source: ZAWYA

Air India is seeking approximately $1.5 billion in fresh equity funding from its owners Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, according to two people familiar with the matter cited by Reuters.

The proposed funding would rank among the largest publicly reported shareholder injections into Air India since Tata Group took control of the former state-owned carrier in 2022.

The request comes as Air India continues a multi-billion-dollar transformation programme, including the refurbishment of its existing fleet and upgrades to its operations and systems.

Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express reported combined losses of $2.33 billion for the fiscal year ended March, more than double the previous year’s losses. The financial performance has also affected Singapore Airlines’ profits.

According to the sources, Air India wants the funds as soon as possible, although the investment could be provided in several tranches. Singapore Airlines, which holds around 25% of Air India, would need to contribute its share for the proposed equity infusion to proceed.

Discussions remain ongoing and no final decision has been made, the sources said.

Air India’s turnaround has faced several challenges, including Pakistan’s airspace restrictions on Indian carriers, disruptions to international operations linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, and the aftermath of last year’s fatal crash that killed 260 people.

Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has previously said Air India’s transformation could take up to a decade, citing supply-chain challenges and the need to overhaul the airline’s legacy systems, culture and fleet.

The airline has also sought to defer deliveries of hundreds of aircraft ordered from Airbus and Boeing as Tata Group works to reduce costs and address its losses.

One of the sources said Air India is expected to require additional capital injections in the coming years as it continues its long-term turnaround programme.

Source: Reuters News

Emirates ranked first among global airlines for international capacity in August, offering more than 31 billion available seat kilometres (ASKs), according to aviation analytics provider OAG.

The Dubai-based carrier’s international capacity was approximately 21% higher than Ryanair, which ranked second with around 25.7 billion ASKs.

Available seat kilometres are a key measure of airline capacity, calculated by multiplying the number of seats available for sale by the distance flown.

United Airlines ranked third with approximately 22.8 billion ASKs, followed by Turkish Airlines with around 21.5 billion.

British Airways ranked seventh with 15.9 billion ASKs, while American Airlines followed with approximately 15.7 billion. Air France ranked ninth with a similar level of capacity, and Lufthansa completed the top 10 with around 15.3 billion ASKs.

Emirates’ leading position reflects the scale of its extensive long-haul network operated through its Dubai hub, placing the airline significantly ahead of other major international carriers in capacity deployed during the month.

The ASK metric particularly highlights the scale of long-haul operations because it accounts for both the number of seats offered and the distance flown.

Source: Gulf News

Fujairah International Airport and GODOBA Travel and Tourism have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for cooperation aimed at enhancing travel services, improving the passenger experience and supporting the airport’s commercial and operational growth.

The agreement was signed by Ebraheim Alqallaf, Deputy Director-General of Fujairah International Airport, and Raad Al Abri, Chief Executive Officer of GODOBA Travel and Tourism, during a ceremony in Fujairah.

Under the MoU, the two parties will explore joint initiatives to increase passenger traffic through Fujairah International Airport, promote existing routes and destinations, and develop integrated travel and tourism opportunities.

Areas of cooperation will include sharing market insights, supporting destination and route development, promoting travel services and exploring digital solutions that improve access to travel information and booking services.

The partnership will also examine opportunities to strengthen regional air connectivity and support Fujairah’s development as both a business and leisure destination.

Alqallaf said the agreement would help the airport work more closely with the travel and tourism sector to improve passenger services and support stronger connectivity.

Al Abri said the MoU provides a foundation for cooperation in travel services, digital solutions, destination development and passenger engagement.

The partnership is intended to support sustainable passenger growth, improve travel services and strengthen Fujairah’s position within the regional tourism and aviation market.

Source: WAM