’Welcome Aboard This Historic Flight’: Tata-Owned Air India’s Circular To Crew For New Flight Announcement

The government handed over Air India to the Tata Group, nearly 69 years after it was taken from the conglomerate.

Air Indias mascot Maharajah at a board outside Air India office in New Delhi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Soon after the full-service carrier Air India was officially handed over to Tata Group earlier in the day, the airline's cockpit crew members on Thursday welcomed the move in a special message to its passengers.

In an order, the operations department told the pilots of Air India flights to make a specific announcement after door closure on every departing on Friday.

As per the order, the revised announcement was as followed, "Dear Guests, This is your Captain (Name) speaking...Welcome aboard this historic flight, which marks a special event,"

"Today, Air India officially becomes a part of the Tata Group again, after seven decades. We look forward to serving you on this and every Air India flight with renewed commitment and passion," the announcement stated.

"Welcome to the future of Air India! We hope you enjoy the journey. Thank you," the announcement ended.

Air India's new circular for cockpit crew welcome announcements: "Dear guests, welcome aboard this historic flight, which marks a special event. Today, Air India officially becomes a part of Tata Group again, after seven decades. Welcome to the future of Air India." pic.twitter.com/GsiXy07I1V

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2022

The government handed over Air India to the Tata Group, nearly 69 years after it was taken from the conglomerate.

The government had on October 8 last year sold Air India to Talace Private Limited - a subsidiary of the Tata Group's holding company - for Rs 18,000 crore after a competitive bidding process.

Meanwhile, sources close to news agency PTI have said that now Air India flights will have smart and well-groomed cabin crew members, better on-time performance of flights, calling passengers as "guests" and enhanced in-flight meal service.

The employees have been told by the Tata Group that there will be a change in "image, attitude and perception" of Air India.

The "enhanced meal service" was provided on four flights - AI864 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI687 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI945 (Mumbai-Abu Dhabi) and AI639 (Mumbai-Bengaluru) - on Thursday.