More than 70 fake bomb threats have been made against flights operated by multiple Indian airlines this week, Indian media reported on Sunday, sparking fear among passengers and global delays. All flights landed safely, but the spate of threats has resulted in planes being diverted to Canada and Germany, and fighter jets scrambled to escort aircraft in the skies above Britain and Singapore. India’s government and civil aviation authorities have warned that “very strict action” will be taken. New Delhi’s civil aviation authorities have not said how many threats have been received in the past week, but the Times of India and broadcaster News18 reported more than 70 hoaxes targeting both domestic and international flights since October 13. At least 30 hoax threats were made on Saturday alone. The global impact of delays and diversions has been heavy on airline schedules and costs. At least one person – a minor – has been arrested in India, but the threats have continued. “All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted,” India’s aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said after the arrest on Wednesday. A report in The Indian Express said that an anonymous account on the X platform was suspended after posting bomb threats to at least 40 flights on Friday and Saturday. This included both Indian and international airlines, including from the United States and New Zealand. “There are bombs placed on board … No one will make out alive. Hurry up and evacuate the plane,” read the identical messages from the suspended account, the newspaper reported. Among recent flights affected was an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York, with US security officials sweeping the plane after its safe landing on Saturday. Other flights affected included an Air India plane from Delhi to Chicago, which was forced to make an emergency landing in the far northern Canadian city of Iqaluit on Tuesday.<br/>
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Air India passengers arriving in New York from Mumbai on Saturday were delayed by a hoax bomb threat, adding to a string of false alarms the carrier has received this month. Police for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey examined the aircraft, baggage and cargo after the flight arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 8:05 a.m., a spokesperson for the bi-state agency said. No bombs were found and the plane was cleared at 11:15 a.m. A Delhi-to-Chicago flight landed at Canada’s Iqaluit Airport on Oct. 15 as a precautionary measure after receiving a security threat. The next day, police in Mumbai arrested a minor for allegedly posting online bomb threats to three flights, according to a statement from civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on X. Air India representatives didn’t reply to a request for comment. At least 60 false alarms have targeted Indian airlines and airports in the first six months of the year.<br/>
Tata Group-owned, Air India (AI) is planning to expand its network through codeshare agreements with international carriers. Indian full-service carrier is already a Star Alliance member, allowing it to extend its network with 25 full-time and around 40 affiliates. Gurugram-based carrier, Air India will advance its global network strategy through new codeshare partnerships with Air Canada (AC) and United Airlines (UA). These agreements mark significant network expansion following Air India’s privatization. The United Airlines codeshare will be Air India’s first partnership with a major US carrier, helping to enhance passenger connectivity in the competitive India-US market. Despite both airlines’ Star Alliance membership and route competition, no previous codeshare existed between them. The Air Canada partnership revival will build on a pre-privatization agreement, strengthening Air India’s North American presence. These partnerships enable Air India to offer passengers seamless travel benefits, including single itineraries, through check-in, and frequent flyer miles accumulation. The airline’s merger with Vistara triggers network partnership restructuring. Vistara’s existing agreement with Japan Airlines faces termination, while Air India pursues expanded collaboration with global carriers. Codeshare agreements provide airlines with broader revenue opportunities compared to interline arrangements. These partnerships allow participating carriers to market flights jointly, with operating airlines granting partners access to expanded fare categories.<br/>
The number of pilots newly hired by Korean air carriers rose 8% on-year through August, data showed Sunday, driven by post-pandemic travel demand. The 11 air carriers hired 537 new pilots over the January-August period, compared with 498 in the same period a year earlier, according to Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, who cited data from the transport ministry. The figure marks a significant increase from the annual average of 135 recorded between 2020 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. By air carrier, Korean Air hired the highest number of pilots at 119, followed by T'way Air, a low-cost carrier (LCC), with 114. T'way has been expanding its number of pilots after being designated as an alternative carrier for four routes operated by Korean Air to European cities — Rome, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Paris — following the top player's planned merger with Asiana Airlines. Eastar Jet, another LCC, hired 79 pilots, followed by Jin Air and Air Busan with 68 and 39, respectively. Asiana has not been hiring new pilots since last year.<br/>
A former flight steward who sued Singapore Airlines (SIA) for over S$1mi, after he claimed to have slipped on a grease patch on board a plane, has had his claim dismissed by the High Court. Durairaj Santiran, 35, claimed that the fall caused injuries to his spine, leaving him medically unfit to continue working as a flight steward. The Malaysian also claimed his former employer was negligent for allowing the workplace to be unsafe. But in a judgment on Oct 18, Justice Vinodh Coomaraswamy said he found that there was, in fact, no slippery area on the floor of the SIA aircraft. The judge also said he did not accept Durairaj’s claim that SIA had breached the duty of care that it owed to him. Durairaj claimed he had slipped and fallen on a “patch of grease” on the floor of the economy-class galley during a flight from San Francisco to Singapore on Sept 6, 2019. He said that he still suffers pain in his back and neck while sitting, standing, walking or running, and that he requires frequent breaks and painkillers to cope with the pain. Durairaj, who was employed by SIA from April 2016 to April 2021 on a salary of $6,058 a month, now works as a customer care analyst in Malaysia, where he earns RM4,200 (S$1,300) a month. His claim for damages includes almost $700,000 for loss of future earnings. In dismissing the claim, the judge said he found that no foreign substance was present on the surface of the galley floor that made it slippery. A reason for this finding was that Durairaj was not a credible witness. Justice Vinodh said there were several material, self-serving and unexplained variances between what Durairaj said in his statement of claim and the evidence that he gave at the trial.<br/>
Australian authorities responded on Saturday to a reported bomb scare on flight from New Zealand to Sydney. Police said there was no threat. Air New Zealand flight 247 remained on the Sydney Airport tarmac with its passengers aboard for hours due to a bomb threat, news media reported. Australian Federal Police said they had responded to an incident on board an aircraft that was en route to the airport. “Investigations are continuing. There is no threat to the community,” a police statement said. Air New Zealand said in a statement there was a “security incident” on the flight. “We are working with the local authorities and following standard protocols established for such incidents. The safety and security of all passengers and crew is our utmost priority,” an airline statement said.<br/>