It’s not unusual to see airplanes piloted by an all-female crew anymore. India, particularly, leads by example with regards to the share of female pilots in comparison with global figures.
And while many airlines sometimes organize flights operated by an all-female crew around events reminiscent of Women’s Day, Air India Express operated a Hajj flight that became barely more special in that everybody involved in that journey, including the passengers, were all women.
Special Hajj flight
India’s low-cost international airline, Air India Express, recently operated a Hajj flight, which in a way, celebrated women’s contribution to the aviation sector. Almost every aspect of the flight was handled by women employees of the corporate, and what made it all of the more special was that each one the passengers it was carrying for the pilgrimage were women.
Photo: Air India Express
The flight, IX 3025, departed from Kozhikode at 18:45 on May eighth, arriving in Jeddah at 22:45 local time. The airline ensured that girls employees oversaw just about all elements of the flight, including not only cockpit and cabin duties but additionally other crucial tasks.
Those chargeable for monitoring the flight at Air India Express’ operation control centre, tracking the flight’s progress, handling flight dispatch, serving because the on-duty service engineer chargeable for aircraft maintenance, and verifying and signing the load sheet because the loadmaster were all women employees of the carrier.
Photo: Air India Express
Hajj flights
India has been allowed to send 175,000 Hajj pilgrims this 12 months, greater than twice as much as last 12 months, when it was given a quota of 80,000 pilgrims. Yearly, the Ministry of Civil Aviation invites tenders from airlines in India and Saudi Arabia for Hajj charter flights from several stations in India to Jeddah/Medina and back to the respective stations.
Air India and its low-cost international subsidiary Air India Express together will fly around 19,000 Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah and Medina this 12 months. Air India has scheduled 46 special Hajj flights out of India this 12 months from Jaipur and Chennai to Medina and Jeddah, respectively.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Air India Express has chosen Kozhikode and Kannur, where it already has a powerful presence, as its Hajj centers this 12 months. The airline will deploy its Boeing 737 aircraft to operate 44 flights from Kozhikode to Jeddah – carrying 6,363 passengers, and 13 flights between Kannur and Jeddah, carrying 1,873 passengers in the course of the first phase.
Recruitment ahead of the merger
Air India Express has also been busy recruiting pilots and cabin crew members because it prepares for a merger with AirAsia India. The airline held nationwide recruitment drives and onboarded a whole lot of recent employees to perform its in-flight duties.
The airline recently announced that it has, in collaboration with AirAsia India, successfully recruited over 800 trainee cabin crew members prior to now 12 months. The induction process, which began in June 2022, commenced with a rigorous selection procedure, attracting a various pool of candidates.
Photo: WeChitra | Shutterstock
Several of those trainees have already undergone comprehensive training at Air India Express’ Mumbai facility, leveraging the combined expertise of each airlines. Clearly, the airline desires to be ready for a rise in operations following the merger.
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