The iconic 'Maharaja', which has served as Air India's mascot for decades, will "live on" and continue to "be part of the airline's journey into the future", CEO Campbell Wilson clarified, amid speculations that the airline would be phasing it out with the adoption of a new logo.
The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: One-third of airline's wide body planes to have new cabins by March 2024, says CEO
Air Indiawill look to lease some aircraft for longer periods "until deliveries of new aircraft picks up pace", the airline's CEO Cambpell Wilson said. One-third of the airline'swide body planes will have the new cabins by March 2024, he noted, adding that the product upgradation of cabins of narrow body planes will be majorly done by way of new aircraft delivery.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Expect airline's wide body fleet to be refurbished by 2025-end, says CEO
"We expect Air India's wide body fleet to be refurbished by the end of 2025," Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said, adding that wide-body refurbishment will start in a year. The airline's new wide body aircraft that are arriving will be fitted with new refurbished interiors, he further noted.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Sneak peek into AI's new refurbished Boeing 777 planes
Here's a sneak peek into Air India's new refurbished Boeing 777 planes, that are targetted to be refitted by next year.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Maharaja will live on, be part of airline's journey in future, CEO clarifies
The iconic 'Maharaja', which has served as Air India's mascot for decades, will "live on" and continue to "be part of the airline's journey into the future", CEO Campbell Wilson clarified, amid speculations that the airline would be phasing it out with the adoption of anew logo.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Spent around $400 million to refurbish aircraft till now, says Air India CEO
"We have spent around $ 400 million to refurbish our aircraft till now," the Airline India CEO said.The first Airbus A350 wide body plane will come to India soon, Cambell Wilson added, further noting that "all our legacy 777 and 787 dreamliner planes will be refitted by next year".
Air India Rebranding LIVE: New website, new mobile app and completely new customer care setup by year-end, says Air India CEO
"We have launched a new website and mobile app for Air India...A completely new customer care center will be setup by the end of the year," Air India CEO Cambell Wilson said.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: 'In midst of transformation...still long way to go', says CEO Campbell Wilson
"Air India is in the midst of transformation.We are still a long way to go but we have started strong," Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said, while addressing the rebranding event.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: New logo 'Vista' inspite by peak of the gold window frame, airline says
"Air India’s new logo symbol - ‘The Vista’ - is inspired by the peak of the gold window frame, signifying limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and the airline’s bold, confident outlook for the future," the airline said in a release.
"The new look reimagines the iconic Indian window shape, historically used by Air India, into a gold window frame that becomes central to the new brand design system - symbolising a ‘Window of Possibilities’," it added.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: What inspired the airline's new logo?
The new Air India logo is inspired by the windows aboard all Air India flights that have been a part of the airlines journey from day one, said officials of the airline while addressing the rebranding event.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Tata Sons chief N Chandrasekaran, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson showcase airline's new livery
Air India Rebranding LIVE: New Air India livery unveiled
The airline livery of Air India was unveiled in a video package played at the event to unveil the revamps. Here's a look.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Aim to adopt the latest technology in Air India in the next 9-12 months, says Tata Sons chief
Tata group, the parent entity of Air India, is aiming to "adopt the latest technology in Air India in the next 9-12 months", N Chandrasekaran said. "Our aim and job is to make Air India a truly iconic airline that every Indian will be proud of," he added.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Making Air India globally competitive requires lot of work, says Tata Sons chairman
"To make Air India a globally competitive airline requires a lot of work.In the last 12 months we have put together a strong team, and are focusing on upgrading all human resources in the airline.We are working to refurbish our current fleet to be in power with global standards," N Chandrasekaran said.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: New logo unveiled; signifies limitless possibilities, says N Chandrasekaran
"The new Air India, the vision we have for the airline will be unveiled today.The new logo of Air India the Vista, signifies limitless possibilities...The Tata Group has been working on this transformation for the last 15 months," Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: New logo kickstarts revamp exercise
Air India Rebranding LIVE: New logo revealed
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Maharaja likely to remain, but with a new role in airline's rebranding
Air India's iconic mascot, the Maharaja, will likely not be retiring despite a shift in its role. Instead of serving as a mascot, the Maharaja's presence is expectedbe reduced to the airline's premium classes and airport lounges. Read more
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran arrives at the event
N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, the parent entity of Air India, has arrived at the event which would mark the rebranding of the erstwhile national carrier. The event commenced at 7 pm.
Air India Rebranding LIVE:
Air India's rebranding event to commence at 7pm today
The rebranding of Air India is scheduled to commence on August 10 at 7:00 pm.
"The transformation is happening in human resources. We have completely revamped the technology. We are revamping engineering and ground handling. The entire fleet will get changed. We have made one of the biggest (aircraft) orders. And that's a very bold bet," stated N Chandrasekharan at the BT Mindrush & BT CEOs Awards event in Mumbai.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: When did Air India's rebranding effort commence?
Tata's engagement with Futurebrands in December 2022 accelerated Air India's rebranding. Futurebrands is a firm specializing in design and brand consultancy.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Pilot seniority amid Tata Group airlines' merger under review
A crucial matter under consideration involves pilot seniority due to the merger of different airlines like Air India Express, Vistara, and AirAsia India into the larger Air India Group.
The pilots rejected the management's proposal for a seniority list based on a "ratio basis," arguing that this would benefit those from Air India Express and Vistara who had received quicker promotions.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Air India expected to announce compensation packages for pilots and cabin crew
Air India is also expected to announce new compensation packages for its pilots and cabin crew on Monday. Additionally, a new rostering system which, as per Wilson would increase "transparency, fairness, equity, roster stability, protection of golden offs [five-day offs on birthday and wedding anniversary] and reduce fatigue," will also be introduced soon.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Air India announces plans to hire cabin crew and pilots
Air India has also announced plans to hire 4200 cabin crew and 900 pilots in the year 2023 to address the shortage which has caused a cancellation of six weekly flights to the US for the last three months.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Female mascot to possibly be part of rebranding plan
Air India is set to unveil a whole range of new services such as a new color scheme, cabin interiors, crew uniforms, and insignia as part of a rebranding process, as per an internal communication from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Campbell Wilson.
The airline mascot- The Maharajah- is still a part of the plans, but there is a possibility that a female mascot may also be added.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Vistara likely to get integrated with Air India, as per reports
“We expect many of the practices and systems (in Air India) to be those of Vistara, it being a younger and privatised airline that has been able to bring in the learnings from its other shareholder (Singapore Airlines),” Wilson Campbell, managing director and CEO, said earlier.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Maharaja confined to Air India's premium cabins and lounges
“I do believe the Maharaja is forever. It’s easy to erase the old with the new. Very few can preserve the old and make it new! AI must attempt that. In the era of hard-touch and hard-tech and hard commercial practice, the soft old mascot of yesteryears doesn’t belong to the dustbin of history. Instead it belongs to the future,” stated Haris Bijoor, brand-strategy specialistto Financial Express.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Rebranding initiative led since December 2022
The airline's rebranding efforts picked up pace following Tata's involvement with Futurebrands, a London design and brand consultancy, in December 2022. Subsequently, McCann Workgroup India was tasked with promoting the brand. This rebranding follows Tata Sons' complete acquisition of the airline in January 2022.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: More details about rebranding
This move is part of Air India's rebranding efforts, set to be revealed in New Delhi, with a new logo featuring a three-color combination - red, white, and purple. This shift in branding reflects the upcoming absorption of Vistara into Air India, incorporating purple from Vistara's identity according to Financial Times.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: A look at Air India's journey so far
Air India might adopt new colors, combining Vistara's purple with its traditional red and white. Tata revealed the Air India-Vistara merger in Nov 2022. McCann Worldgroup, led by Prasoon Joshi, will oversee the rebranding process.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Know more about Air India's Mascot
Bobby Kooka, the airline's commercial director, invented the Maharaja mascot in 1946. He is in charge of giving the mascot a personality and developing the airline's brand around him.
Air India Rebranding LIVE: Maharaja, Air India's mascot to stay
Despite a change in its function, the Maharaja, the famous mascot of Air India, won't be retiring.
The Maharaja's presence will be limited to the airline's first-class cabins and airport lounges rather than acting as a mascot.
Air India Rebranding Live: Air India is all set to launch its new look later today
Tata-backed Air India will undergo a rebranding on August 10. The airline will be preparing for a change in its livery colors and emblem.
