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

Royal Jordanian Airlines and Air China have signed a memorandum of understanding in Beijing to strengthen air transport cooperation between Jordan and China and expand connectivity between the two markets.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of King Abdullah II’s visit to China, according to a statement issued by Royal Jordanian on Saturday.

The memorandum covers expanded commercial and operational cooperation, greater competitiveness in international markets and potential new air routes between the two countries.

As part of the agreement, the airlines will examine codeshare opportunities on several key routes and seek to make greater use of their respective hubs in Amman and Beijing. The arrangement is intended to provide passengers with more travel options and smoother connections across the two carriers’ networks.

The two airlines will also explore cooperation in areas including interline agreements, product and service training, brand promotion and operational support.

Their cooperation will extend to ground handling, air cargo and in-flight catering at their respective hubs, with the aim of maintaining high service standards.

Royal Jordanian Vice Chairman and CEO Samer Majali said the agreement was an important step in the airline’s strategy to strengthen its presence in China and the wider Far East, describing Air China as a strategic partner.

Majali said Beijing could serve as a gateway to wider Asian markets, while Amman plays an important role as a hub for the Levant. He added that deeper commercial cooperation and potential codeshare arrangements could help expand Royal Jordanian’s network and improve passenger connectivity.

He also highlighted the importance of the partnership in supporting the planned direct air route between Amman and Beijing.

Qu Guangji, General Manager of China National Aviation Holding Corp. and President of Air China, said the two airlines already have an established relationship and significant potential to deepen their cooperation.

Qu said Air China would fully support Royal Jordanian’s plans to launch nonstop flights between Amman and Beijing. He added that stronger cooperation could contribute to tourism, business and cultural exchanges between Jordan and China.

The memorandum is expected to provide fresh momentum to aviation cooperation and the development of the air transport markets in both countries.

Royal Jordanian and Air China plan to continue expanding their partnership, with the longer-term objective of creating a stronger air link between Jordan and China and supporting greater travel, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Source: Jordan News Agency