As the holiday season unfolds, Air India is embracing the festive spirit by offering a range of Christmas-themed delights to make passengers' journeys as memorable as their destinations. The airline has curated special inflight menus, festive cabin décor, and activities for children to spread the holiday cheer.
Festive Menus for All Cabins
Passengers traveling in First and Business Class cabins can enjoy a festive feast featuring a traditional stuffed turkey roulade with cranberry sauce, winter roast vegetables, and sweet potato. These offerings will be served on December 24 and 25 on both domestic and international flights departing from India. To satisfy the sweet tooth, Air India is also serving Christmas plum pudding paired with vanilla sauce.
For select international routes, passengers can complement their meals with premium wines and Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut champagne. Meanwhile, Premium Economy and Economy Class passengers will receive a traditional Christmas cake topped with custard sauce, ensuring a touch of holiday magic for everyone onboard.
Holiday-Themed Cabins
To enhance the festive atmosphere, select Air India aircraft cabins have been adorned with Christmas wreaths. This decorative touch creates a warm and inviting ambiance, accompanied by a musical playlist featuring popular carols and timeless classics. The combination of festive décor and melodious tunes aims to provide passengers with an exceptional inflight experience.
Special Treats for Young Travelers
Young flyers at Delhi and Mumbai airports will receive engagement kits filled with fun activities. These kits will be distributed at boarding gates, adding excitement and joy for children before their flights.
Domestic Air Travel in India Sees Robust Growth
In other aviation news, domestic air passenger traffic in India has witnessed significant growth. According to a report by credit rating agency ICRA, passenger numbers reached 144.9 lakh in November 2024, marking a 6.1% increase compared to October. This also represents a 13.8% year-on-year growth from November 2023 and an 11.9% rise compared to pre-Covid levels in November 2019.
For the first eight months of FY2024-25 (April-November), domestic air passenger traffic reached 1,074.9 lakh, showing a 6.7% year-on-year growth and a 12.3% increase from pre-Covid figures. Additionally, international passenger traffic for Indian carriers between April and November stood at 190.3 lakh, reflecting a 15.9% year-on-year growth and a 45.4% surge compared to pre-Covid levels.
Improved Passenger Load and Capacity
The report highlighted that the domestic aviation industry operated at a passenger load factor (PLF) of 90.4% in November 2024, an improvement from 86.3% in November 2023 and 89.5% in November 2019. Capacity deployment also grew by 8.6% compared to November 2023.
Trends in Aviation Fuel PricesThe report also analyzed aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, which showed mixed trends throughout the year. While prices were higher year-on-year from April to July, they decreased significantly between August and December, offering some relief to the aviation industry.
)
