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

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) will operate 66 domestic and international routes under its winter 2026/27 timetable, covering key destinations across Europe, Australia and Asia.

The seasonal schedule will run from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, aligning with Thailand’s peak tourism period.

THAI announced the programme on September 2, 2026, saying it had increased selected services and flight frequencies in response to passenger bookings and travel demand. The airline is also using the winter schedule to strengthen its network connectivity through Bangkok.

The carrier’s winter network will include 15 routes to Europe and Australia, 43 routes across Asia and eight domestic routes.

Source: QCAA

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flyadeal, part of Saudia Group, has expanded its operations in Pakistan with the launch of a new direct route linking Madinah with Karachi.

The airline will operate two flights per week on the new route, deploying Airbus A320neo aircraft equipped with 186 Economy Class seats.

With the addition of Madinah, Karachi is now connected by flyadeal to three Saudi cities, following the airline’s existing services from Jeddah and Riyadh.

The new route also takes flyadeal’s total number of destinations in Pakistan to seven, highlighting the carrier’s continued expansion in the market.

Abdulaziz Bahri, Chief Operating Officer of flyadeal, said the launch demonstrates the airline’s growing commitment to Pakistan, where demand has continued to strengthen across its international network.

Bahri noted that flyadeal began serving Pakistan with two routes last year and has since expanded to seven. He said the rapid growth reflects the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, alongside growing demand for the airline’s modern, efficient, friendly and affordable services.

Source: TradeArabia

Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi-based AI technology company ROX have agreed to explore potential areas of collaboration, with the partnership initially centred on ROX’s Africa Grand Tour S2.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Etihad’s brand will appear on the vehicle used for the overland expedition. The companies will also consider joint content, storytelling and marketing initiatives linked to the tour, creating an opportunity to connect air travel with ground mobility and destination experiences across Africa.

ROX’s Africa Grand Tour S2 is an extended overland expedition across the continent featuring the ROX ADAMAS. The journey is intended to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities across a wide range of destinations and driving conditions while generating content around travel, exploration and mobility.

The initiative will serve as an initial platform for Etihad and ROX to explore ways of combining air connectivity, ground transportation and destination experiences through storytelling and content.

The MoU was signed in Abu Dhabi during the inauguration of ROX’s Advanced AI Manufacturing Centre. Beyond the Africa Grand Tour, the agreement provides a broader framework for the two companies to examine potential cooperation in intelligent mobility, technology, lifestyle innovation, future travel experiences and destination-focused mobility.

Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the Africa Grand Tour offers an opportunity to bring together travel, destinations, mobility and storytelling.

“From Abu Dhabi, Etihad connects people to a growing global network, and we are always interested in new ideas that can enhance how people experience the places they travel to,” Neves said. He added that the MoU would allow both sides to assess potential areas of alignment and the prospects for future collaboration.

Yan Feng, CEO of ROX, said the company was established with the aim of developing intelligent mobility solutions that connect people, technology and destinations.

He described the Africa Grand Tour as a starting point for exploring broader opportunities in intelligent mobility, travel and lifestyle, adding that ROX and Etihad could complement each other by connecting land-based exploration with air travel.

Both companies are headquartered in Abu Dhabi and see potential for their respective technologies, capabilities and brands to work together, beginning with the Africa Grand Tour S2.

Source: WAM

Air Arabia is expanding its services to Thailand by adding a fourth daily non-stop flight between Sharjah and Bangkok, strengthening air connectivity between the UAE and Southeast Asia.

The additional frequency will begin on October 25, 2026, increasing the airline’s Sharjah-Bangkok operations to 28 non-stop flights per week and giving passengers more travel options.

The expanded Bangkok schedule complements Air Arabia’s existing 21 weekly non-stop flights between Sharjah and Phuket, strengthening its presence in two of Thailand’s major destinations.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said the increased Bangkok service reflects the importance of Thailand to the airline’s network and growing demand for affordable travel between the UAE and Southeast Asia.

He said increasing Bangkok operations to four daily flights, alongside the existing Phuket service, would give passengers greater flexibility while enhancing Sharjah’s connectivity with Thailand.

With the new frequency, Air Arabia will operate a combined 49 non-stop weekly flights between Sharjah and Bangkok and Phuket, making Thailand one of its key destinations in Southeast Asia.

The expanded schedule will also provide passengers travelling from the UAE with more flexibility when planning direct journeys from Sharjah.

Source: ZAWYA