Tata Group-owned Air India is set to make significant strides in its operations, both by expanding its route network and forming a crucial interline partnership with Alaska Airlines. These moves are poised to bring enhanced connectivity and convenience for travellers.
The airline has announced its ambitious plan to increase its weekly flights significantly by adding over 400 flights to both domestic and international routes by March 2024. With more than 200 weekly flights planned for Indian cities such as Mumbai and Delhi, Air India is committed to strengthening its domestic network.
On the international front, over 80 weekly flights have already been added as part of this expansion effort. Additionally, the airline is preparing to unveil four new international destinations in the coming months.
To kickstart this expansion, Air India has already boosted weekly flight frequencies on eight international routes, touching key destinations in Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe. This includes routes such as Mumbai-Singapore, Delhi-Bangkok, Delhi-Dhaka, and many more.
In line with these expansion plans, Air India expects to induct more than 30 widebody and narrowbody aircraft into its fleet by March 2024, featuring A350s, B777s, and A320neos.
Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India, said, “While modernising our fleet and introducing
new products and services is a top priority in Air India’s ongoing transformation journey, we are
equally focused on densifying and expanding our route network to capture the rapidly growing
demand in the market. The next few months are exciting for Air India and our guests, indeed.”
The non-stop service will operate three times a week, providing a convenient and efficient connection between the vibrant city of Mumbai and the cultural hub of Melbourne. Air India is the exclusive non-stop operator connecting these two cities, offering a streamlined travel experience for passengers. The introduction of the Mumbai-Melbourne route presents an annual increase of nearly 40,000 available seats into the Australian state of Victoria.
Interline partnership with Alaska Airlines
Simultaneously, Air India has entered into a strategic interline partnership with Alaska Airlines, strengthening its international reach with connections to and from 32 destinations in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The scope of this agreement encompasses bilateral interlining, allowing both airlines to sell tickets on each other’s networks, and a Special Prorate Agreement enabling ‘through fares’ on Alaska Airlines routes. Moreover, passengers can enjoy Air India’s free baggage allowance on Alaska Airlines flights.Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer at Air India, expressed, “The tie-up with Alaska Air will expand our international footprint in the US and Canada and even extend our reach to Mexico, boosting our network expansion plans. It will help us offer more choice to our guests and mark a significant step forward in our mission to enhance connectivity.”
Air India currently operates 47 non-stop flights every week from Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai to five American cities, with 14 non-stop flights weekly from Delhi to Canadian cities, Toronto, and Vancouver.
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The Central Government has invested INR 1000 crore, in the development of several locations within the region as part of the Heritage Circuit. Besides, places like Vadnagar, Nadabet and Dharoi are also being developed as major tourism hubs in Gujarat. Additionally, the state gets a green flag on several connectivity projects worth INR 5800 crore in Mehsana.
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The United States Department of Homeland Security has introduced a series of proposed changes to the H-1B visa program, a move with potential implications for Indian tech professionals, a significant segment of H-1B visa recipients. The proposals, which focus on modernising the program and improving its efficiency, come as the Biden Administration seeks to attract global talent and prevent misuse and fraud within the immigration system.
The changes, now open for public comment for a 60-day period, aim to make the H-1B program more accessible to both US employers and foreign workers while adhering to the protections established under US law.
One of the key changes proposed involves altering the H-1B registration selection process. Under the existing system, individuals had a higher chance of selection in the lottery if multiple registrations were submitted on their behalf. The new proposal seeks to eliminate this advantage by entering each unique individual into the selection process once, regardless of the number of registrations submitted for them. This is expected to improve the chances of legitimate registrations being selected and offer beneficiaries more choice among job offers.
The proposed rule also includes provisions for streamlining eligibility requirements, thus reducing confusion for both the public and adjudicators and clarifying that a position may allow a range of degrees, as long as there’s a direct relationship between the required degree field(s) and the job duties.
Furthermore, the rule seeks to provide greater benefits and flexibilities for both employers and workers. Specific exemptions to the H-1B cap will be expanded for certain nonprofit entities or governmental research organizations, as well as beneficiaries not directly employed by a qualifying organization. It will also extend certain flexibilities for students on an F-1 visa when they seek to change their status to H-1B. Additionally, it aims to establish new H-1B eligibility requirements for rising entrepreneurs.
The US announced on September 27 that it was admitting Israel into the visa waiver program, adding the country to a select group of 40 mostly European and Asian countries whose citizens can travel to the US for three months without visas. At the time, the US said Israelis could start traveling to America without visas as of November 30. In a news release, the Department of Homeland Security said the program was operational as of October 19.
Integrity measures will also be strengthened. The new selection process and additional regulations will reduce misuse and fraud in the H-1B registration process by prohibiting related entities from submitting multiple registrations for the same beneficiary. The rule also codifies USCIS’ authority to conduct site visits and clarifies that refusal to comply with site visits may result in petition denial or revocation.For many Indian tech professionals, the proposed changes offer potential advantages in terms of improved selection processes and a more streamlined path to working in the United States. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these changes are currently in the proposal stage and open to public comments, meaning there may still be adjustments before they are finalised and implemented.
The issue of H-1B visas has been a topic of discussion between India and the United States, with some of these changes arising after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States earlier this year. During that visit, the US authorities pledged to introduce ‘in-country’ renewable H-1B visas to simplify the renewal process for numerous Indian visa holders. These latest proposals indicate ongoing efforts to improve the H-1B program for the benefit of both Indian professionals and the US economy.
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