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By Nishang Narayan
Published on June 16, 2024
Eid ul-Adha and the Hajj pilgrimage stand as pillars of spiritual tourism, drawing millions of Muslims from around the world to Mecca and other significant locations for profound religious experiences. This year, Eid ul-Adha will be celebrated globally on June 16 or 17, 2024, contingent upon the sighting of the crescent moon. This festival, known as the Feast of Sacrifice, honors Prophet Ibrahim's devotion and willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, symbolizing themes of faith, sacrifice, and compassion.
In 2024, the celebration of Eid ul-Adha will vary slightly worldwide based on the Islamic lunar calendar and the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon. In Saudi Arabia and several other countries, the moon sighting will take place on June 6, 2024. If the moon is seen, Dhul Hijjah will start on June 7, and Eid ul-Adha will be celebrated on June 16. If not, Dhul Hijjah will begin on June 8, making Eid ul-Adha on June 17. In India, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries, the moon sighting will occur on June 7, potentially placing Eid on June 17 or June 18, depending on visibility.
Eid ul-Adha significantly boosts global travel, especially as millions of Muslims undertake the Hajj pilgrimage, one of Islam's five pillars. This pilgrimage not only reinforces religious bonds but also substantially impacts the economies of Saudi Arabia and surrounding regions. Hotels, airlines, and local businesses experience a considerable increase in activity during this period, highlighting the festival’s economic importance.
The essence of Eid ul-Adha extends beyond its religious observances, fostering a sense of global community and unity among Muslims as they gather to perform the qurbani, the ritual animal sacrifice, and share the meat with family, friends, and those in need. This act of sharing underscores the festival’s values of generosity and social solidarity. Additionally, the festival encourages charitable acts and brings together families and communities, boosting local economies through increased spending on food, clothing, and festivities.
As the festival approaches, Muslims worldwide prepare by purchasing new clothes, organizing feasts, and planning their participation in communal prayers. In many countries, special congregational prayers are held at mosques and open grounds, where the faithful come together to listen to sermons that emphasize the values of sacrifice and obedience to God. Traditional dishes and sweets, such as sheer khurma and seviyan, are prepared and enjoyed, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Eid ul-Adha also imparts profound moral and ethical teachings, reminding Muslims of the importance of faith, gratitude, and caring for others. The festival’s emphasis on sacrifice and sharing serves as a poignant reminder of the need for empathy and generosity in daily life. By encouraging acts of charity and fostering a sense of community, Eid ul-Adha helps to reinforce the core principles of Islam and promotes social cohesion.
In the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western countries, Muslim communities celebrate Eid ul-Adha with a blend of cultural traditions and local customs, often integrating public celebrations and community events. The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange and understanding, as non-Muslims are often invited to join in the celebrations, furthering the spirit of inclusivity.
The three-day festival of sacrifice, known as Eid al-Adha, is observed on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, which falls on the third day of the Hajj. It falls on June 16 of this year. After Eid al-Fitr, which commemorates the end of Ramadan, the month-long fast, Eid al-Adha is the second most important Muslim holiday. On this holiday, they slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute some of the meat to the poor.
In a communal sense, the Hajj brings Muslims from all walks of life together to perform religious rites and acts of worship at the same time and location. These Muslims come from a variety of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many of them are left with a sense of equality, humility, and togetherness as a result.
Additionally, pilgrims bring their own requests, desires, and life experiences with them. In addition to fulfilling a pilgrim's religious duty, the Hajj is, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime, profoundly spiritual event.
Muslim travelers intending to do the Hajj travel from all over the world arrive in Mecca in a pure ihram state. The ihram, which unites pilgrims from many origins, is a symbol of humility and spiritual focus. For men, this implies wearing only seamless white clothing, with the right shoulder always left uncovered and one piece wrapped around the waist and another over the left shoulder. Women can also dress in plain piece of clothing adhering to the Hijab rules and not covering their faces.
For several pilgrims, standing on the Arafat plain and praising God, pleading for forgiveness, and making supplications is the pinnacle of the Hajj experience spiritually. Other customs include "tawaf," which is the circling of the Kaaba in Mecca seven times in a counterclockwise direction.
In conclusion, Eid ul-Adha and the Hajj pilgrimage are not just religious events but powerful cultural phenomena that enhance spiritual tourism, support local economies, and strengthen community bonds. As Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate, the impact of these events on both the individual and collective levels highlights their enduring significance and far-reaching benefits.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on October 25, 2026
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.
By Hariharan U
Published on October 23, 2026
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.
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.
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.
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.
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