The Maharaja's New Armoury

Described as the mother of all aircraft deals in aviation history, the order by air india not only helps it take the battle to its competitors, but also establishes india as a key aviation market globally

- Manish Pant

IF YOU TURN the pages of the visitor's register at Air India's temporary headquarters in PVR Star Mall in Gurugram near Delhi, you will find scores of entries made by 20-somethings who are either appearing for job interviews or are coming for their induction after having been selected. It is an indicator of the rise in interest in the airline after it was sold by the Indian government to the $128-billion Tata group in January 2022.

"We have witnessed approximately 30 per cent increase in Air India's bookings post-privatisation. We are optimistic that this surge will drive demand and create a positive sentiment for the airline," says SabiChopra, Co-founder & COO, Corporate Travel & Head of Industry Relations at online travel agency (OTA) Yatra Online. And after February 14, when Air India announced two mega orders totalling a world-record 470 aircraft (Airbus and Boeing combined) as part of its ambitious expansion plans, it is likely to see much more action-both as an employer and a provider of aviation services not only in India but also globally.