27 Jun 2025

#4 June 2025: India Aviation Newsletter

Air India Expands Self Check-in and Baggage Drop Facilities for International Routes

Air India has extended its integrated self-service check-in and baggage-drop offering to cover all flights from India to Europe, the UK, and Canada. The expansion brings the facility to 19 airports, adding to the airline’s earlier roll-out for destinations in the US and Australia, and forms part of a larger effort to modernise the passenger experience across its global network. This includes airports such as London Heathrow and Gatwick, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Toronto, Vancouver, and more. Passengers can now benefit from a more seamless check-in process, reduced queues, and improved airport flow.

This enhancement joins a suite of initiatives Air India has introduced over the past year to elevate the traveller experience. These include Premium Lobbies for higher-tier passengers, Family Assistance counters, and city-side check-in counters at Delhi and Hyderabad. Collectively, these steps aim to raise Air India’s service standards to global benchmarks, as reflected in the carrier’s rising Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

Kempegowda International Airport Launches Cultural Collaboration with MAP at Terminal 2

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR Airport) has partnered with the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) to create an immersive cultural experience at Terminal 2. This partnership brings South Asian art and heritage into the travel journey through a curated display of installations and artworks by celebrated regional artists.

T2 already houses a substantial collection of over 200 artworks, and this collaboration aims to deepen passenger engagement through interactive storytelling, fostering cultural exploration even in transit. BIAL MD & CEO Hari Marar described the initiative as part of a broader vision to reimagine travel as an experience infused with creativity and reflection, not just transportation. The initiative reflects Bengaluru’s identity as a cultural and technological capital.

IndiGo Strengthens Central Asia Presence with Three New Routes

IndiGo is set to expand its international footprint with direct flights to three Central Asian cities: Almaty, Tashkent, and Tbilisi. The airline will launch Mumbai–Almaty service on 1 July, followed by Mumbai–Tashkent on 1 August and Mumbai–Tbilisi on 2 August. It will operate four weekly services to Almaty and Tashkent, and three weekly to Tbilisi.

This marks a significant step in IndiGo’s strategy to position Mumbai as a key international gateway. The airline already operates successful Central Asian routes out of Delhi and is leveraging its scale to enhance accessibility and trade links with these growing markets. The new flights aim to serve both leisure and business travellers, reinforcing IndiGo’s mission to expand seamless, direct connectivity from India to strategic international destinations.

Acumen’s Take

On Air India’s Self Check-in and Baggage Drop Expansion:

Acumen views Air India’s expansion of its self-service capabilities as a necessary shift towards modernising passenger handling at Indian airports. As operational efficiency and digital adoption become critical differentiators in global aviation, these steps help enhance turnaround times and reduce terminal congestion—vital for supporting growing international traffic.

On BLR Airport and MAP Partnership:

BLR Airport’s integration of art and culture aligns with a global trend of transforming airport terminals into experiential spaces. For asset managers and airport developers, this sets a precedent in creating destination-led infrastructure—combining footfall optimisation with local identity.

On IndiGo’s Central Asia Expansion:

IndiGo’s aggressive push into Central Asia underscores the emergence of regional hubs like Mumbai as key points in the Indo-Eurasian corridor. The growth of mid-range international routes offers opportunities for aircraft redeployment, lease placement, and fleet planning strategies that align with Acumen’s data-backed route viability models.

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