“If KLM in Netherlands is flying 28 flights a week into India because of the [size of] the Indian market, and on the other hand the Indian operators such as Air India only get like seven flights, and [there is] nothing or just a handful of slots for IndiGo at Amsterdam’s Schipol, ​then there should be some balance,” Pieter Elbers Well said, Pieter Elbers. I totally agree, and I'd extend it to other areas and include the Middle East. thehindu.com/business/indigo… Note there is precedent for this, the 2007 Air India Malaysian Airlines London Heathrow slot deal. airliners.net/forum/viewtopi…

Great move by Air India. Carrier's in America do this. This could effect the low cost airlines. #airindia

Excellent first-rate podcasts from the AviaDev Africa 2026 Conference, a good listen: youtube.com/@aviadev/videos @SeanMendis

I sincerely hope Air India is not planning to downsize or delay deliveries of aircraft If this happens, airline head offices in the Middle East will be partying long into the night. economictimes.indiatimes.com…

I always felt these Erstwhile Air India-style connection flights would return one day.

VT-ANP Air India's 2nd re-fitted B787-8 is currently scheduled to re-enter service tonight, operating: AI358 Delhi-Tokyo flightradar24.com/data/aircr… #airindia

A very good move by Air India. Surprised it's taken them so long. I would have thought this would have been one of the 1st Star airline partnerships done after the takeover. Going forward, Air India and Thai Airways will have a lot in common.

Great presentation by Indigo, particularly in depicting the potential of the Indian Aviation market Also shows the Indigo A350s will come with a Business Class goindigo.in/content/dam/s6we… #indigo

SpiceJet has again successfully obtained slots to operate 3 flights a week at Birmingham Airport via the allocations for the IATA NW26 Season. Let's see if SpiceJet actually uses them this time.

ACL IATA NW26 Season London Heathrow (LHR) Initial Slot Report Analysis for Indian Carriers: No new slots were available, so both Air India & IndiGo were unsuccessful in their applications for new slots via the ACL allocation process. Therefore, the only three ways either carrier will be able to increase Heathrow is: 1. Via slot retunes (Highly Unlikely). 2. Purchase slots. 3. Lease (Babysit) additional slots from another airline, as both are currently doing. Note: Air India wanted to operate an additional 20 flights per week to/from Heathrow. Indigo wanted to operate 14 weekly (2 daily) flights to/from Heathrow.

Contrary to what is being Tweeted elsewhere: The ACL Initial IATA NW 26 Season Slot Report indicates that NO Indian carriers received any new slots via the allocations at London Heathrow. In fact, no carriers received significant new slots at London Heathrow. @SeanMendis @KaptainPetrovs @TIAG747 @AviationAll_ @khabri_lal

Another feather in our hat. Our loyalty program, Maharaja Club, has been voted 'Program of the Year' in the Middle East & Asia Pacific region at the Freddie Awards 2026. Voted for by millions of travellers worldwide, the Freddie Awards recognise excellence in airline and hotel loyalty programmes. Read more: airindia.com/in/en/newsroom/… #AirIndia

IndiGo's Manchester Flight Suspension Analysis: 1. The numbers for Manchester India direct flights are there. 2. One of Indigo's main problems was the Norse B787S. They don't have a business class. Hence, passengers who require business class will book with other airlines, so Indigo was already losing passengers. 3. Add to this the airspace restrictions, fuel hike with the distance (with Manchester being one of the most westerly points in Europe). 4. A strong element of the market Indigo is relying on, as it does not offer business class, is the Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) segment. The VFR segment is often the lowest-yielding among passenger segments. So, in a challenging cost environment, it was only a matter of time before Indigo was bound to feel the pinch. Manchester India will work for an Indian airline offering Business, Premium Economy and Economy classes. That also has good onward connections. Note: Indigo's A350S are supposed to have a form of business class.

My analysis regarding Indigo returning London Heathrow slots to Virgin Atlantic: 1. 6E was leasing the said slots for the IATA NW25 Season. 6E being shown to return them is probably just a paperwork formality. 2. For IATA NS26 Season 6E is leasing Heathrow slots from British Airways. If all of those were being returned, I'd be more concerned. 3. I'd doubt Indigo would want to pull out of London Heathrow altogether. Particularly, given that 6E has WBs on order and flights are still on sale. 4. London Heathrow Airport is the most convenient London Airport for the vast majority of the London Indian Community.