Air India is the first and only Indian carrier, and among a few in Asia, to have achieved this global standard for excellence in handling, storage, and transportation of time and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments.

The GDP certification validates Air India’s compliance with international guidelines for the safe and secure distribution of pharmaceuticals. In the financial year 2024-25, Air India transported over 4,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals across the globe.

“India is one of the world’s key exporters of pharmaceutical products, demanding specialised logistics and precision for their transportation to other parts of the world. This certification provides a shot in the arm to our expertise and capabilities in this specialised space of logistics, assuring partners globally that we are fully equipped to safeguard the integrity of every shipment,” said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo, Air India.

In its domestic route network, Air India’s GDP-certified stations include major cargo hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Goa. Internationally, the certificate covers major gateways like New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam - ensuring seamless connectivity for pharmaceutical shipments both within India and globally.

Embraer delivered 30 aircraft in 1Q25. The result was 20% higher than in the first quarter of last year (1Q24), when 25 aircraft were delivered. 1Q25 deliveries corresponded to 13% of the midpoint (231 aircraft) of the company's full year guidance (between 222 and 240 in 2025) for the combined Executive and Commercial Aviation business units versus an 11% 5-year historical average for the period.

In February, the Phenom 300 series was again recognised as the world's best-selling and most delivered light jet for the 13th consecutive year, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). In the same announcement, the institution confirmed the light jet as the most delivered twin-engine jet for the fifth year in a row in 2024.

In Services & Support, Embraer said the backlog remained stable at US$4.6 billion in 1Q25, with the company reporting Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier carrier, was the highlight of the period with a spare parts inventory support agreement covering its all-Embraer 68 aircraft fleet. The airline will become the first African customer for the customised Embraer Collaborative Inventory Planning (ECIP) management system, which will optimise inventory levels and reduce operational costs for its fleet.

Beginning with maintenance of Douglas DC-3s and DC-4s on behalf of leading industrialists and international airlines flying to India in 1951, Air Works eventually established a comprehensive portfolio of aviation Engineering and Maintenance services that spanned over 50 different types of aircraft (General Aviation), including entering partnerships with several global OEMs such as Dassault, Bombardier, Bell, Leonardo, and Gulfstream.

"The entire company is thrilled to celebrate this momentous and record-breaking, once-in-a-lifetime milestone," said D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works Group. He added: "Our journey has been one of passion, perseverance, and professionalism, driven by the commitment of our founding fathers’ to continue serving the evolving needs of our customers and those of the overarching aviation industry. None of this would however be possible without the support and dedication of every one of our 1600+ employees, our customers and partners. Turning 75 isn’t just a company achievement – but a collective tribute to the faith and commitment of every member of the Air Works family."

IndiGo BluChip Members can now earn IndiGo BluChips every time they spend on Swiggy across Food, Instamart and Swiggy Dineout —making every transaction more rewarding. With no blackout dates and no expiry - IndiGo BluChips, can be redeemed anytime to book IndiGo flights. 

Neetan Chopra, chief digital and information officer, IndiGo said: “At IndiGo, we are driven by a passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences. This partnership takes our IndiGo BluChip program a notch higher, seamlessly integrating it into our customers' daily lives. From ordering dinner to shopping for essentials or booking a table at a city's restaurant, our loyal customers can now indulge in exclusive benefits that follow them wherever they go. By earning rewards on every meal, grocery order, and dining experience, our users can fast-track their journey to their next adventure. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to making travel more rewarding, enjoyable, and seamlessly integrated into our customers' lifestyles.”

Phani Kishan, chief growth officer and co-founder at Swiggy, said: “Swiggy is driven by the mission to provide unparalleled convenience, whether it’s through food, quick commerce, or unique experiences. Partnering with a trusted brand like IndiGo is a natural extension of that commitment. By integrating the IndiGo BluChip Program with Swiggy’s offerings, we’re making travel and everyday experiences more rewarding for millions of users.”

IATA has called on governments and industry to remain focused on delivering the fundamental expectations of customers—safety and security, digitalisation and sustainability.

“Whether supporting global trade, enabling e-commerce, or delivering vital humanitarian aid, the value of air cargo has never been clearer. To meet customer expectations and navigate an increasingly complex environment, the air cargo industry must continuously strengthen safety and security, fast-track digitalisation, and deliver on its sustainability commitments,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo at the opening of the 18th World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Dubai, UAE.

Safety: Zero Tolerance for Rogue Shippers

Safety is the top priority for air transport and in the case of air cargo the specific focus is on the safe transport of lithium batteries. IATA calls on government to step up efforts to stop rogue shippers and support ICAO’s work to strengthen Annex 18 of the Chicago Convention—the global framework for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air.

“Shipments of lithium batteries are growing in volume. With that come increased risks associated with undeclared or mis-declared goods. The industry has invested in training, certification, and technology. Governments must match that commitment with robust oversight and enforcement,” said Sullivan.

Security: The Need for Coordinated, Risk-Based Measures 

IATA reinforced calls to governments for a coordinated, risk-based approach to air cargo security following recent incidents involving incendiary devices concealed in shipments. While some states implemented new measures, the lack of alignment led to inconsistent outcomes. This situation reinforces the importance of harmonised responses based on global standards.

“Recent security incidents highlight the need for better coordination among governments. Aviation security cannot be built on fragmented or reactionary measures. Global standards and cooperation are essential,” said Sullivan.

IATA also renewed its call to states to fulfil their Annex 17 obligations by sharing timely and accurate threat intelligence to enable informed risk assessments and operational decisions.

“The industry is best placed to understand its operations and the associated safety and security risks. But governments have infinitely more resources, particularly in intelligence gathering. The best results come when governments and industry work together,” said Sullivan. 

Digitalisation: Accelerating Industry-Wide Adoption of ONE Record 

IATA reinforced the central role of ONE Record as the industry’s standard for end-to-end digital data exchange, supporting improved efficiency, compliance, and transparency. The industry’s goal is clear: by January 2026, ONE Record will become the preferred method of sharing data. To accelerate industry adoption IATA urged:

• Airlines and forwarders to move forward with implementation
• Governments to recognise ONE Record in regulatory data filing requirements
• Developers to build secure, open, and compatible digital platforms

“ONE Record is a foundational shift in how we share, manage, and trust data across the supply chain. Airlines representing 72% of global air waybill volume are on track to implement it. More than 100 IT providers and 10,000 freight forwarders are already aligned. To achieve full value, implementation must accelerate across all stakeholders, and governments must recognise ONE Record in their regulatory frameworks,” said Sullivan.

Sustainability: Commitment Strong, SAF Support Needed 

The air cargo industry continues to embed sustainability into its operations, with growing efforts to reduce waste, implement circular practices, and phase out single-use plastics. For example, IATA guidance to eliminate single-use plastics across the cargo supply chain is now reflected in operational standards.

Progress is also being made on the sector’s largest environmental challenge—reducing carbon emissions. Momentum around SAF is growing, with new agreements across the value chain and more companies committing to SAF use. 

However, SAF volumes remain far below what is needed, and production costs remain high. IATA urged governments to implement policy frameworks to scale up SAF production and reduce costs.

“We are committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But the ramp-up of SAF—our strongest lever—has been disappointing. The major fuel producers have been slow-walking—or sidelining—planned investments in SAF. Aircraft manufacturers have backed off their commitments for medium-term delivery of CO2 saving products such as hydrogen-powered aircraft. And governments have not provided the policy support needed, even though they have a playbook at hand with how the wind and solar energy industries expanded. Instead, they send mixed signals by subsidising fossil fuel extraction while aiming for net zero. Airlines are committed and determined but we cannot do it alone. We need action behind the words of regulators, fuel suppliers and manufacturers,” said Sullivan.

Trade Tensions 

Amid growing trade tensions, IATA reinforced its position that trade drives prosperity, and that any measures undermining the free flow of goods ultimately hurt businesses, consumers, and economies.

“Current trade tensions are deeply concerning. Trade drives prosperity. The more the world trades, the better off we all are. So, whatever the resolution of current trade tensions is, we know that air cargo will be there to deliver the goods people need and want,” said Sullivan.

With implementation of this change, IndiGo will now operate from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), New Delhi.

The agreement continues to ensure products can be delivered quickly and efficiently, with distribution rights of Collins’ line of oxygen systems, Goodrich lighting solutions, and beverage makers for Airbus, Boeing and many other platforms. 

The strategic agreement combines the inventory management, forecasting and delivery expertise of Satair with Collins’ premium cabin interior solutions. It covers emergency supplemental oxygen equipment, galley equipment for on-board beverage service, and a range of cabin and external lighting products, including logo, wing, landing, navigation, emergency, anti-collision and taxi lights. 

“This extension builds on our long-standing collaboration with Collins Aerospace, allowing us to provide airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities worldwide with critical safety and comfort products,” said Cindy da Silva, Director of OEM Product Management at Satair. “Our combined expertise ensures reliable support and availability for these essential systems.” 

"As a leading provider of cabin interior products and solutions, Collins’ airline customers rely on aftermarket speed and agility to keep fleets operational and ensure the highest levels of passenger comfort and safety,” said John Baske, vice president of Services & Support at Collins Aerospace. “Satair’s customer reach and supply chain prowess ensure our airline customers receive premium support no matter where they are around the globe.”

The flag carrier of India will see Astrova line fit on 34 of its new widebody aircraft currently on order: six Airbus A350-1000s, 14 A350-900s and 14 Boeing 787-9s. 

Panasonic Avionics will transform Air India’s in-flight experience by offering its passengers a fully immersive experience through the Astrova solution, providing industry-leading 4K OLED HDR10+ displays with accurate colour reproduction, infinite contrast ratios and perfect blacks. High-fidelity sound with Spatial Audio will also be delivered to any wired headset or to the passengers’ own wireless headphones using Panasonic Avionics’ Bluetooth technology. 

Air India passengers flying on aircraft installed with Astrova IFE will have access to 67W of USB-C direct power at their seat, offering fast charging facilities throughout the entire flight duration for their mobile phones, tablets, compatible laptops, and other personal electronic devices. The advanced features of the Astrova IFE solution also include LED lighting designed to enhance the passenger experience by adjusting the cabin ambience for optimal comfort.

To ensure the highest performance levels of its IFE system across its widebody fleet, Air India has chosen Panasonic Technical Services (PTS) to provide support to its in-service aircraft fitted with Panasonic Avionics’ IFE systems.

Nipun Aggarwal, chief commercial officer, Air India said: “We are happy to continue our relationship with Panasonic Avionics which will contribute to elevating the travel experience of our passengers. The integration of the Astrova IFE solution and cutting-edge digital services on some of our aircraft marks an exciting step forward in redefining our inflight offerings for years to come.” 

Hernan Abbes, vice president of Global Sales at Panasonic Avionics, said: “We are honored that Air India has chosen to continue their collaboration with Panasonic Avionics as we support their ambitious digital transformation journey. Our Astrova IFE solution is designed to provide an immersive and unparalleled inflight experience for their passengers, while redefining the ownership experience with its modular design, enabling Air India to fully embrace digitalisation, develop bespoke interactive features, and achieve significant operational cost savings."

Converix can be installed by any aircraft manufacturer, on any airframe type. It supports all in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) integration, cabin and galley operations, lighting, and other in-cabin applications. Airlines will also be able to monitor aircraft data, improve crew operations, manage cabin inventories and optimise aircraft maintenance.

The platform enables responsible artificial intelligence (AI), which can interface with the 10,000 plus datapoints across an aircraft. It will leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) and Agentic AI to analyse multiple terabytes of both structured and unstructured data, and provide consumable and data-rich airline analytics such as daily CEO and executive reports to greatly improve operational efficiency.

An AI virtual attendant at every seat empowers passengers with a wide range of personalised services on their journey such as their connections and luggage tracking, status on their hotel or car reservation, destination services such as restaurants recommendations, and much more. Consumable and rich data services can also help airlines deliver more personalisation and targeted advertising, which can be up to ten times the value of current in-flight media. 

Ken Sain, chief executive officer, Panasonic Avionics, said: “For the past two years, Panasonic Avionics has been focused on two strategic initiatives – to redefine the passenger experience and to reimagine the airline ownership experience. 

“Converix builds on the success of our Astrova seat-end IFE solution, and is designed with the same commitment to innovation, industrial design, and modularity. It represents the latest solution from Panasonic Avionics that helps airlines maximise digital engagement, drive loyalty economics, and improve operational efficiencies.”  

As a neutral application hosting platform, Converix will give control of the onboard passenger experience directly to airlines. Its Developer Platform offers airlines and third parties a natural ecosystem of software tools, environments and simulators to create and host applications seamlessly.

Andy Masson, Senior Vice President of Product and Strategy for Panasonic Avionics, said: “Converix embraces the key tenants that drive our product strategy – design, technology, and sustainable modularity – to create a radical game-changing solution for the airline industry. 

“It transforms the airline ownership experience with a modular design that is both lighter and consumes less power. It improves operational efficiencies by eliminating the need for multiple server boxes running separate systems. It also gives passengers what they want – endless personalised content instantly at their fingertips.”

Through this collaboration, NEC joins SITA’s Digital Travel Ecosystem, an open, interoperable framework that connects various systems for real-time digital identity verification. Developed in partnership with Indicio, SITA’s ecosystem eliminates the need for direct integrations between issuers and verifiers, simplifying adoption for airports, airlines, and governments.

At the core of the ecosystem is the Trust Network, which governs how digital credentials are shared securely around the world. Built with a privacy-by-design approach, it gives travellers control over their data, including when and with whom they share their credentials. Strong emphasis on data security and privacy means that personal information remains protected and in the hands of the traveler.

With 28% of airlines and 43% of airports planning to implement biometric identity management solutions in the next 12 months (SITA Air Transport IT Insights 2024), demand for interoperable systems is growing. A lack of standardisation has slowed widespread adoption, but the SITA-NEC collaboration addresses this challenge through a scalable framework for secure identity exchange.

“After years of investment, aviation and other travel stakeholders are now seeing the full potential of digital identities, and the industry is gearing up to scale,” said Jeremy Springall, senior vice president of Borders at SITA.

“With NEC’s biometric expertise and SITA’s industry-leading footprint of biometric touchpoints around the world, we’re well-positioned to accelerate the transformation of Digital Travel worldwide.”

“NEC brings more than 125 years of innovation and a global track record in trusted identity technologies,” said Nanaumi Nagamine, senior director of the DID Department at NEC. “With SITA, we’ve delivered proven biometric solutions at airports around the world, creating secure and seamless travel experiences for thousands of passengers every day. This expanded collaboration will accelerate global adoption and set a new standard for trusted digital identity in travel.”

By addressing longstanding interoperability challenges, the SITA and NEC collaboration will increase the adoption of digital identities by passengers, helping the industry reduce bottlenecks, improve security, and enhance the passenger experience at every touchpoint.