Air India extends summer sale, introduces winter fares

Air India announced on June 23 that due to the popularity of it's ‘One Price India' summer and fall sale fares, it is extending the booking deadline for these fares, which are available from July through October 2008, until July 15.

The carrier has also announced new winter season sale fares at similar savings for travel from November 2008 through March 2009.

The deadline for purchasing winter sale fare tickets is also July 15.

These special economy class fares are available from New York's JFK International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport to Mumbai, Delhi, as well as to the over 40 other cities in India served by the carrier.

Based on date of departure, all fares are set as follows: $727 roundtrip: Departure Jul. 14 - Jul. 31; $622 roundtrip: Departure Aug. 1 - Aug. 18, Departure Sept. 19 - Oct. 31; $572 roundtrip: Departure Aug. 19 - Sept. 18; $704 roundtrip: Departure Nov. 1 - Nov. 30, 2008, Departures Dec. 24, 2008 - Jan. 15, 2009; $912 roundtrip: Departure Dec. 1 - Dec. 12, 2008; $1,068 roundtrip: Departure Dec. 13 - Dec. 23, 2008; $549 roundtrip: Departure Jan. 16 - Mar. 31, 2009.

All ‘One Price India' sale fares apply to any of Air India's direct and non-stop flights to India departing New York Sunday through Thursday, and returning Monday through Friday.

Weekend departures are also available for an additional $50, based on a round trip purchase.

They include flights on Friday and Saturday to India, and Saturday and Sunday from India.

The minimum stay is the first Sunday after arrival, and the maximum stay is up to six months.

Fare conditions are that sale fare tickets must be purchased by July 15.

Travel must be on Air India operated flights from New York City, including ‘Indian Airlines' designated flights within India.

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Menon appointed Chairman and Managing Director of Air India

Air India has announced the appointment of Raghu Menon to the post of Chairman and Managing Director of the airline, a press release said. He succeeds V. Thulasidas, who retired on March 3.

In his new position, Menon will be responsible for continuing the integration of Air India and Indian Airlines following their merger in 2007, as well as the expansion and upgrading of the carrier's fleet and product offers, and its entry into the Star Alliance, the release said.

A 1974 batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, Menon was previously a Special Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Menon also worked at the Home, Welfare and Information and Broadcasting Ministries of the Government of India. He was briefly a journalist with The Hitvada newspaper before joining the civil services.

"It is a great honor to be elected to the position of Air India's Chairman and Managing Director. I look forward to continuing the airline's successful growth around the world, helping to foster tourism and business, and making an important contribution to the economic prosperity of India," Menon was quoted in the release as saying.

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Air India launches New York, New Delhi non-stop service

A s a gleaming new Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft of Air India touched down at 5:45 am at the John F. Kennedy Airport February 8, India's flag carrier had launched one more nonstop service to the U.S. from India - this time from New Delhi.

With 141 people on board, including the pilots and the cabin crew, the aircraft named "Andhra Pradesh" landed to a rousing welcome, and the 123 passengers showed little fatigue despite a 15:30 hour non-stop journey.

"This flight, as in the case of the non-stop between Mumbai and New York last August, offers unprecedented comfort and convenience," said Air India chairman V. Thulasidas, ahead of the launch.

"It will, in a way, redefine air travel," the chairman said, even as he added that the carrier, which was recently merged with Indian Airlines, would continue with the daily service here via London.

"We will also continue to operate a daily flight on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Paris sector. We will thus have 28 flights per week to serve New York - including twice every day from Mumbai and New Delhi, the two main Indian gateways."

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