New Delhi Feb 28 PTI Air Indias fifth evacuation flight came from Romanian capital Bucharest to Delhi on Monday morning with 249 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine amid the Russian military offensive officials said India began evacuation of its citizens from Romania and Hungary neighbouring countries of Ukraine from Saturday onwards Tata Group-owned Air India has evacuated a total of 1156 Indian nationals in five evacuation flights till now Officials said one more evacuation flight is expected to land in Delhi on Monday PTI DSP ANB ANB

New Delhi Feb 27 PTI As many as 688 Indian nationals returned here on Sunday from strife-torn Ukraine on board three Air India evacuation flights from Romanian capital Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that approximately 13000 Indians are stranded in Ukraine as of now and the government is making efforts to bring them back as soon as possible Following the Russian military offensive against Ukraine India has brought back a total of 907 stranded citizens from that country since Saturday when the first evacuation flight from Bucharest with 219 people on board landed in Mumbai under Operation Ganga The second flight AI1942 departed from Bucharest with 250 Indian citizens and landed at the Delhi airport around 245 AM on Sunday officials said With 240 Indian nationals on board the third evacuation flight from Bucharest landed at the Delhi airport around 920 AM on Sunday followed by another Tata Group-run carriers flight from Bucharest with 198 Indian nationals at 535 PM Air India spokesperson said the carrier plans to send two more planes to Bucharest and Budapest on Sunday so that they can operate fifth and sixth evacuation flights but it is all highly tentative Early this morning Scindia welcomed the evacuees of the AI1942 flight at the Delhi airport by handing out roses to them Scindia told reporters at the airport terminal that approximately 13000 Indians are stranded in Ukraine as of now You know it is an extremely sensitive situation there Ukraine In this situation we are talking with each Indian national including students through telecommunications he said We will bring them back as soon as possible he said Addressing the returnees Scindia said I know you all have been through a very very difficult time a very very trying time But know this that the PM is with you at every step the Indian government is with you at every step and 130 crore Indians are with you at every step The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began Therefore the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest respectively by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights Scindia told the passengers of the AI1942 flight that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and talks are being held so that everyone is brought home safely The minister said talks are also on with the Russian government and the Indian government will breathe easy only after every stranded Indian is evacuated from Ukraine So please pass on this message to all your friends and all your colleagues that we are with them and we will guarantee their safe passage back Scindia said I welcome you all on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi I would like to congratulate the team of Air India too for putting in so much effort to bring you all back he added The government is not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights Air India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airport The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Sunday that whenever curfew is lifted and people are moving around in a neighbourhood Indian nationals are advised to use nearby railway stations to proceed towards western parts of the country The western parts of the country are relatively conflict-free as of now The transportation mode of Railways is operational and saferUkrainian Railways is also operating special trains for evacuation of people free of charge on a first-come-first-serve basis at the railway station the Indian Embassy in Ukraine noted It said Indians should travel in groups and carry only essentials in a rucksack or a bag PTI DSP RT RT

New Delhi Feb 27 PTI Air Indias second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday government officials saidCivil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to themIndia on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine with the first evacuation flight AI1944 bringing back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai in the eveningThe second evacuation flight AI1942 carrying 250 Indian citizens landed at the Delhi airport around 245 am on Sunday the officials saidAir Indias third evacuation flight AI1940 which has departed from Hungarian capital Budapest is also scheduled to return with 240 evacuees to Delhi on Sunday they saidAddressing the returnees Scindia said I know you all have been through a very very difficult time a very very trying time But know this that the PM is with you at every step the Indian government is with you at every step and 130 crore Indians are with you at every step He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and talks are being held so that everyone is brought home safelyThe minister said talks are also on with the Russian government and the Indian government will breathe easy only after each and every stranded Indian is evacuated from UkraineSo please pass on this message to all your friends and all your colleagues that we are with them and we will guarantee their safe passage back Scindia saidI welcome you all on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi I would like to congratulate the team of Air India too for putting in so much effort to bring you all back he addedThe Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began Therefore the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and BudapestIndian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest respectively by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights the officials saidThe government is not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights they saidScindia told reporters at the airport terminal that approximately 13000 Indians are stranded in Ukraine as of nowYou know it is an extremely sensitive situation there Ukraine In this situation we are talking with each Indian national including students through telecommunications he saidWe will bring them back as soon as possible he saidAir India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airportAviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine the airline saidForeign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24 that around 16000 Indians mainly students were stranded in UkraineThe Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Saturday that Indian citizens in Ukraine should not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government officials there using the helpline numbersThe situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens it mentionedThe Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who are reaching border checkpoints without prior intimationIt said that staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water food accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situationAll those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions maintain calm and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible with whatever food water and amenities available and remain patient it said PTI DSP DIV DIV

New Delhi Feb 27 PTI Air Indias second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday government officials saidCivil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to themIndia on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine with the first evacuation flight AI1944 bringing back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai in the eveningThe second evacuation flight AI1942 carrying 250 Indian citizens landed at the Delhi airport around 245 am on Sunday the officials saidAir Indias third evacuation flight AI1940 which has departed from Hungarian capital Budapest is also scheduled to return with 240 evacuees to Delhi on Sunday they saidAddressing the returnees Scindia said I know you all have been through a very very difficult time a very very trying time But know this that the PM is with you at every step the Indian government is with you at every step and 130 crore Indians are with you at every step He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and talks are being held so that everyone is brought home safelyThe minister said talks are also on with the Russian government and the Indian government will breathe easy only after each and every stranded Indian is evacuated from UkraineSo please pass on this message to all your friends and all your colleagues that we are with them and we will guarantee their safe passage back Scindia saidI welcome you all on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi I would like to congratulate the team of Air India too for putting in so much effort to bring you all back he addedThe Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began Therefore the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and BudapestIndian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest respectively by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights the officials saidThe government is not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights they saidAir India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airportAviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine the airline saidForeign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24 that around 16000 Indians mainly students were stranded in UkraineThe Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Saturday that Indian citizens in Ukraine should not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government officials there using the helpline numbersThe situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens it mentionedThe Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who are reaching border checkpoints without prior intimationIt said that staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water food accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situationAll those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions maintain calm and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible with whatever food water and amenities available and remain patient it said PTI DSP DIV DIV

New Delhi Feb 27 PTI Air Indias second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday government officials saidIndia on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine with the first evacuation flight AI1944 bringing back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai in the eveningThe second evacuation flight AI1942 carrying 250 Indian citizens landed at the Delhi airport around 245 am on Sunday the officials saidAir Indias third evacuation flight AI1940 which will depart from Hungarian capital Budapest is also scheduled to return with evacuees to Delhi on Sunday they saidThe Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began Therefore the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and BudapestIndian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border have been taken to Bucharest and Budapest respectively by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in these Air India flights the officials saidThe government is not charging the rescued passengers for the evacuation flights they said PTI DSP DIV DIV

New Delhi Feb 27 PTI Air Indias second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday government officials saidCivil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to themIndia on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine with the first evacuation flight AI1944 bringing back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai in the eveningThe second evacuation flight AI1942 carrying 250 Indian citizens landed at the Delhi airport around 245 am on Sunday the officials saidAir Indias third evacuation flight AI1940 which will depart from Hungarian capital Budapest is also scheduled to return with evacuees to Delhi on Sunday they saidThe Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began Therefore the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and BudapestIndian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest respectively by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights the officials saidThe government is not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights they saidAir India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airportAviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine the airline saidForeign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24 that around 16000 Indians mainly students were stranded in UkraineThe Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Saturday that Indian citizens in Ukraine should not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government officials there using the helpline numbersThe situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens it mentionedThe Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who are reaching border checkpoints without prior intimationIt said that staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water food accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situationAll those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions maintain calm and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible with whatever food water and amenities available and remain patient it said PTI DSP DIV DIV

Kochi Feb 26 PTI Like most international students stranded in Ukraine as Russian forces close in around the country the 2000-odd students from Kerala are facing a twin crisis -- the dangers posed by raining missiles as well as the increasingly real prospect of running out of food supplies or medicines When PTI contacted Jayakrishnan J R a final year medical student from Kerala and a rescue member from Kharkiv in the eastern region of the war-ridden Ukraine he was busy collecting food and supplies for around 200-odd members who had taken refuge in a bunker along with him The weather is harsh as its snowing and we are not sure for how long we will have electricity Currently we have food and supplies to last three more days There are many first year students here who are new to this type of weather Their health may get affected Jayakrishnan said There are over 1500 students from Kerala in Kharkiv alone who are currently in various bunkers in the city which is just 30 kilometers from the Russian border Students said when they contacted the embassy the officials asked them to remain inside the bunker and stay safe But how are we going to survive without basic necessities like food and water and that too in this freezing weather The availability of medicines is also short We request the government to plan evacuation from such critical and dangerous zones he said There are many students who have booked flight tickets for Rs 60000 and are unable to leave the bunkers Ann and Preethi two other medical students from Kerala are currently staying in a deep underground metro station They said they were receiving messages from locals asking them to stay inside the metro station itself as local authorities have instructed everyone to stay inside due to bombing Students in Kharkiv are hoping that the Indian Embassy will arrange their evacuation from the most dangerous region in the war zone We are on the eastern border of Ukraine and currently the evacuation is happening through the western border of the country We are stranded on this side as the Russian border is just 30 kilometers from here We need to cover a distance of around 1500 km to reach the evacuation points which is not possible at this time Preethi said Ann said the sub zero temperature has affected the students a lot as many of them fled their hostels when the bombing started without even wearing proper footwear Ann Preethi and around 50 others have taken refuge in a deep underground metro station in Kharkiv We are comparatively safer in the metro station than most of the bunkers in the city as the bunkers are very old and have not been used for many years Due to the lack of renovations its not safe Also those in deep bunkers find it difficult to contact the authorities to inform them about their presence Preethi said There are 2320 students from Kerala studying in Ukraine and the state government has sought the intervention of the External Affairs Ministry to ensure their safety Television channels have aired numerous visuals of Kerala students in the war-ridden nation explaining their plight Earlier in the day Air Indias first evacuation flight departed from Romanian capital Bucharest for Mumbai with approximately 250 Indian nationals who were stranded there PTI RRT SA SA

New Delhi Jan 27 PTI The entire countrys eyes are on the Tata Group and Air India waiting to see what they will achieve together Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran told the carriers employees in his first communique after taking over the airline on ThursdayThe Indian government on Thursday officially handed over Air India to the Tata Group after nearly 69 yearsFollowing a competitive bidding process the government had on October 8 last year sold Air India to Talace Private Limited a subsidiary of the Tata Groups holding company for Rs 18000 croreIn the communique sent to Air Indias employees Chandrasekaran said I have learned that to preserve what is best about the past requires constant change It is by evolving adapting and embracing the future that we best honour a glorious history The entire nations eyes are on us waiting to see what we will achieve together he noted adding To build the airline our country needs we need to look to the future Air India was started by the Tata Group in 1932 However after the country got independence the airline was nationalised in 1953 by the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru PTI DSP NSD NSD

New Delhi Jan 27 PTI The entire nations eyes are on the Tata Group and Air India waiting to see what they will achieve together Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran told the carriers employees in his first communique after taking over the airline on ThursdayHe expressed confidence that the golden age of Air India lies aheadThe Union government officially handed over Air India to the Tata Group on Thursday after nearly 69 yearsFollowing a competitive bidding process the government had on October 8 last year sold Air India to Talace Private Limited a subsidiary of the Tata Groups holding company for Rs 18000 croreIn the communique sent to Air Indias employees Chandrasekaran said I have learned that to preserve what is best about the past requires constant change It is by evolving adapting and embracing the future that we best honour a glorious history The entire nations eyes are on us waiting to see what we will achieve together he noted adding To build the airline our country needs we need to look to the future Air India was started by the Tata Group in 1932 However after the country got independence the airline was nationalised in 1953 by the then prime minister Jawaharlal NehruFrom the day of the announcement October 8 2021 one word has been on everyones lips homecoming Chandrasekaran notedToday is the beginning of a new chapter I write this letter on behalf of the Tata Group to welcome you to our family the Tata Sons chairman saidHe said like many others he enjoyed reflecting on stories from Air Indias brilliant pastMy first flight was with Air India in December 1986 and I will never forget how special it felt to be onboard or the exhilaration as we soared into the sky Such memories are wonderful but now is the time to look ahead he noted and stated that he is convinced that the golden age of Air India lies aheadOur journey towards it starts now Welcome And welcome back Chandrasekaran wrote in the communique to the employees PTI DSP NSD NSD

New Delhi Dec 17 PTI The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed Air Indias appeals against an order directing the reinstatement and payment of back wages to over 40 pilots whose services were terminated last yearA bench of justices Rajiv Shakdher and Talwant Singh upheld the relief granted to the pilots by a single judge of the high court and clarified that those who have now secured employment elsewhere would only be entitled to back wages and not reinstatementWe find no good ground to disturb the final result arrived at by the learned single judge said the benchThe pilots had moved the high court last year after Air India refused to accept the withdrawal of their resignations and terminated their employmentThe State and its instrumentalities are obliged to act as a model employer and therefore cannot be seen to deprive the pilots of the right to serve the organisation Air India at a point in time when finding jobs in the private sector is a difficult propositionThe State and its instrumentalities are expected to look at myriad aspects and not just profits Welfare of employees in times when jobs are difficult to come by should form a crucial ingredient of its decision making process The State cannot be seen to cast off its social responsibility towards its employees and their families when it expects the private sector to bear that burden the court saidIn its 64-page order the court held that acceptance of resignation was an integral part of the process put in place for a pilot seeking to exitIt also rejected as irrelevant Air Indias objection that the pilots had tendered resignations because they sought greener pastures ie better offers from private airlines and said that the untenable financial wherewithal of the pilots because of the pandemic could not denude them of their legal right to revisit their decision to resignThe single judge had quashed the carriers decision to terminate the services of the pilots both permanent and on contract and directed their reinstatementIn its June 1 order the single judge had said that back wages including allowances have to be paid at par with what in-service pilots were receiving and in accordance with the government rulesIn its appeal AirIndia had opposed the reinstatement and payment of back wages to the pilots saying that unless resignation is specifically made prospective it is effective immediately and a pilot cannot withdraw it subsequentlyIt had contended that there was no such notice period within which pilots can be said to have a right to withdraw their resignationsOnce a resignation is tendered a pilot has to continue to work for six months in terms of the Civil Aviation Requirements in public interest senior counsel for Air India had saidThe lawyers for the pilots had argued that Air Indias stand could not be accepted as a resignation is prospective in nature which comes into effect after the mandatory six-month notice periodIt was pointed out that in certain instances before the court in the present batch of appeals the withdrawal of resignation was even accepted byAirIndiaThe terminated pilots had first moved the high court in July last year seeking directions to Air India to accept withdrawal of the resignations tendered by themHowever on August 13 2020 Air India issued termination letters to several pilots including those who had wanted to withdraw their resignationsSubsequently the pilots moved the high court against the August 13 2020 decision of Air India PTI ADS IJT