Air India has commenced construction of a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), marking another step towards strengthening its aircraft maintenance capabilities in India. The project aims to improve operational efficiency, enhance fleet reliability and reduce the airline's dependence on external maintenance services.

Spread across nine acres, the upcoming facility is designed to accommodate one widebody and one narrowbody aircraft simultaneously. According to Air India, it will be the first facility in Delhi capable of handling both aircraft types at the same time, allowing the airline to bring key engineering and maintenance activities under one roof. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 22 October 2026 in the presence of Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, along with senior executives from the airline and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

Other attendees included P Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Affairs at Air India; Basil Kwauk, Chief Operations Officer at Air India; Jeremy Yew, Senior Vice President – Engineering & Maintenance at Air India; Manomay Rai, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of DIAL; Vijay K Sharma, Vice President and Head – Aviation Services Business at DIAL; and Deepika Sharma, AGM – Aero Related, Commercial Aero, DIAL, among others.

The new hangar is expected to support Air India's efforts to build stronger in-house maintenance capabilities while improving aircraft availability and operational performance. By bringing inspections, cabin maintenance and technical defect repairs together, the facility aims to reduce the time aircraft spend on the ground.

The facility will integrate engineering offices with an on-site spare-parts warehouse, helping maintenance teams access the equipment and technical support required for aircraft repairs. This integrated approach is expected to reduce fragmented workflows, improve coordination and lower logistics costs. A dedicated Cabin Shop will focus on repairing and maintaining aircraft interiors. By handling more cabin-related work in-house, Air India aims to reduce its reliance on third-party vendors, speed up repairs and minimise cabin-related defects.

The facility is also expected to improve the recovery of aircraft grounded because of technical issues. Direct access to engineering teams and spare parts will help accelerate troubleshooting and repairs, potentially reducing operational disruptions and supporting a more reliable passenger experience.

Designed for long-term scalability, the hangar will feature a 25-metre clear height and large column-free spans to accommodate next-generation aircraft. The facility will also incorporate advanced fire protection measures and follow strict safety standards. The project aligns with Air India's environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments through adherence to Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Building norms, with provisions for energy and water conservation.

The development represents another investment in India's aviation maintenance infrastructure. As Air India continues to strengthen its engineering operations, the new Delhi facility is expected to support more efficient fleet management and improve the airline's ability to maintain aircraft at its largest hub. By expanding its in-house maintenance capacity, Air India aims to strengthen operational self-reliance while contributing to the wider development of India's aviation and aircraft maintenance ecosystem.

Air India and Standard Chartered have announced a partnership combining premium airline loyalty benefits with international banking and wealth management services for affluent Global Indian clients in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The proposition is expected to become available in the coming weeks.

The collaboration brings together Air India's Maharaja Club loyalty programme and Standard Chartered's cross-border financial capabilities, targeting customers whose travel, business and financial interests span multiple countries.

Maharaja Club Status and Travel Privileges

Under the partnership, eligible affluent Global Indian clients of Standard Chartered in Singapore and the UAE will be offered Maharaja Club Gold or Silver status, providing access to a range of airline loyalty benefits.

Depending on their membership tier, customers can receive additional baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, airport lounge access, upgrade vouchers and bonus Maharaja Points.

Gold membership also provides Star Alliance Gold status, extending travel privileges across the Star Alliance network of 25 other member airlines in addition to Air India. Benefits include access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, priority airport services and additional baggage benefits, subject to applicable programme conditions.

The offering is designed to give eligible banking customers access to premium travel privileges while strengthening their engagement with Air India's loyalty ecosystem.

Cross-Border Banking and Wealth Management

Beyond travel, the partnership will offer eligible Air India customers who bank with Standard Chartered in Singapore or the UAE access to financial and relationship management services.

These include dedicated relationship management support, market outlook insights from the bank's Chief Investment Office, invitations to exclusive thought leadership events and tailored wealth solutions designed to address cross-border financial requirements.

The proposition reflects the needs of Global Indians who may manage investments, businesses and personal financial commitments across multiple markets. By combining travel privileges with wealth management support, the partnership seeks to offer a broader proposition beyond conventional airline loyalty benefits.

Rajesh Kannan, Head, Wealth and Retail Banking, UAE & Jersey, and Head, Global Indian Clients, Standard Chartered, said the collaboration brings together two established brands to serve customers whose lives and ambitions increasingly span borders. He highlighted the combination of Air India's international network and the bank's wealth management expertise as central to the proposition.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said the partnership would help extend Maharaja Club across key international markets, offering eligible customers premium status, enhanced travel benefits and global recognition while supporting their increasingly international lifestyles.

Maharaja Club's Expanding Loyalty Ecosystem

Air India redesigned Maharaja Club in 2024 with a simplified structure, revised membership tiers and an updated identity. Since then, the programme has added millions of members, according to the airline.

Members can earn and redeem Maharaja Points on eligible flights operated by Air India and Air India Express across 104 destinations, as well as on flights operated by other Star Alliance member airlines.

The programme also has partnerships with more than 100 brands across hospitality, retail, lifestyle and financial services, allowing members to earn Maharaja Points through a wider range of travel and everyday spending.

The Standard Chartered partnership adds another financial services relationship to this broader ecosystem, linking airline loyalty with international banking and wealth management.

As airlines increasingly look beyond flight-based rewards to deepen customer relationships, the collaboration highlights an approach that connects travel privileges with the wider financial and lifestyle needs of internationally mobile customers

SWITCH Mobility Ltd, part of the Hinduja Group, and intercity mobility operator PURPLE BUS have launched an electric bus service on the Nagpur–Chandrapur route, bringing electric intercity travel to the Vidarbha region. The launch was marked by the flag-off of the first six buses from an order of 50 SWITCH EiV12m intercity electric coaches for deployment in the region. The event took place in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

The launch coincided with Dussehra, a festival associated with new beginnings. The new service aims to improve connectivity between Nagpur and Chandrapur by offering commuters a comfortable, reliable and more environment-friendly travel option.

This marks the third intercity deployment between SWITCH Mobility and Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions in 2026. The partnership previously introduced electric coaches on the Mumbai–Pune route in April and the Dombivli–Pune route in October. These deployments reflect the growing use of electric buses on busy intercity routes.

Speaking about the launch, Ganesh Mani, Chief Executive Officer of SWITCH Mobility, said, “Nagpur and Chandrapur share a close economic and cultural relationship, and strengthening this corridor with our partner Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions is an important step in our mission to build future-ready public transport across India. Following our deployment on the Mumbai - Pune route earlier this year, we are glad to extend this partnership to Vidarbha and to contribute to the region’s growth by supporting the everyday movement of the people who depend on it. This launch reaffirms our commitment to sustainable, people-first mobility solutions in Maharashtra and beyond.”

Saurabh Patwadhan, Director of PURPLE BUS, said, “At PURPLE BUS, our goal is to make electric the default way people travel between cities, not the exception. We are building that future route by route, from Mumbai–Pune, one of India’s busiest corridors, to Nagpur–Chandrapur, where we now bring Vidarbha its first electric bus service. Our fleet has already covered more than one million kilometres (10 lakh km) in electric intercity operations, and the data shows what many operators doubted: electric coaches deliver a lower total cost of ownership and a lower cost per passenger-kilometre than diesel. Our partnership with SWITCH Mobility has been central to proving that, and it gives us the confidence to scale sustainable intercity mobility across Maharashtra.”

Strengthening Public Mobility in Vidarbha

The Nagpur–Chandrapur service adds to SWITCH Mobility’s expanding partnership with Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions. By connecting two key centres in Vidarbha, the service is expected to support daily travel, improve regional connectivity and contribute to local economic activity while encouraging cleaner transport.

The SWITCH EiV12m intercity coach is designed for long-distance journeys, combining passenger comfort with operational efficiency. Each bus features 45 pushback seats, a range of up to 350 km per charge and fast-charging capability. It also comes with advanced safety systems, a quieter ride and SWITCH iON connected technology for real-time monitoring, supporting reliable operations and a comfortable travel experience.