Prioritising safety, passengers offered rescheduling: Air India Express on flight cancellation, ETInfra
Air India Express on Monday regretted the inconvenience to passengers of a Delhi-bound flight that was cancelled due to a technical snag a day ago and said it prioritises the safety of operations.The cancellation of the flight on the Ranchi-Delhi route caused a chaotic situation at the airport here on Sunday evening, and the passengers were seen arguing with the airline's staff about rescheduling.The low-cost carrier said it offered all possible options to passengers, including complimentary rescheduling on preferred dates."One of our flights from Ranchi was cancelled shortly after boarding due to a technical issue. Guests have been offered options, including re-accommodation on the next available flight with a hotel stay, complimentary rescheduling to a preferred date, or cancellation with a full refund. We regret the inconvenience while prioritising safety in every aspect of our operations," a spokesperson of the airline said.Ranchi Airport Director RR Maurya had said that the AIX (Air India Express) 1200 from Ranchi to Delhi, which was scheduled to take off at 6 pm on Sunday, was cancelled due to a technical snag.Maurya said some passengers were accommodated on other flights, while several others had their tickets cancelled. A few passengers were rescheduled for Monday, he had said.A 39-year-old passenger, Faiz Anwar, had on Sunday told PTI, "We boarded the flight around 5.20 pm and waited till 7 pm when all of a sudden we were asked to deboard without providing any reason. I have to attend an important meeting in Delhi tomorrow, but they are not ready to reschedule my flight."He claimed that there were many passengers, who had to catch connecting international flights from Delhi for the UK, the US and South Africa, but no one was there to pay heed to their requests.>
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Mundu, not so mundane: The unstitched revolution that's wrapping up Indian fashion
For Delhi-based Ramachander Poodipeddi, a 36-year-old consumer electronics and policy professional, the initiation into veshtis happened during his stint as a government official in Tamil Nadu where he would see politicians wear it quite often. It looked comfortable and he decided to give it a go, in and around the house. Starting with the wrap, which is called veshti in Tamil Nadu and mundu in Kerala, he tried other styles, inspired by the sari draping his wife Rajeswari M Ramachander, a handloom enthusiast and founder of Label RaMa, did. Today, his wrap wardrobe has weaves sourced directly from Kerala, West Bengal, Mangalagiri in Andhra Pradesh, Salem in Tamil Nadu and Gopalpur in Odisha. Poodipeddi's favourites are the 120-180-count dhotis from Bengal and Kerala and he sticks to handwoven fabrics. 'The comfort factor of a handwoven cotton dhoti is addictive,' he says. 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It is a question that many style mavens are asking as they try to wrap their head around the idea of a draped lower for men. Ramesh Menon, Kochi-based textile revivalist and founder of Save The Loom , says nothing works better than the traditional wraps—dhoti, veshti, mundu, lungi—for keeping it cool in the Indian weather. The draped garment, worn in large parts of Asia, lost its sheen with the entry of tailored and silhouetted garments. Menon says it became largely confined to certain segments: worn at home, by the poor, in rural areas, on traditional occasions. THE COOL WRAP It was this shackle that Coimbatore-based Ramraj Cotton's founder and chairman KR Nagarajan tried to break with its 'Salute Ramraj' campaign in 2006. Starring actor Jayaram, it drew from Nagarajan's own experience of being denied entry into a five-star hotel as he was wearing a veshti. Live Events Ramraj Cotton is one of the biggest success stories in the veshti market. It made the garment a style statement, backed by high-decibel marketing and some big-ticket names as ambassadors— Rishab Shetty, Venkatesh Daggubati, Abhishek Bachchan and Shreyas Iyer. 'When we started in 1983, no one wanted to make veshtis,' recalls Nagarajan. 'The weavers were losing their livelihood. I took it upon myself to uplift these families. We started with about 15 weavers and today more than 50,000 weavers work with us.' They include power - loom and handloom weavers. Nagarajan says the 'Salute Ramraj' campaign was a turning point. The ad showcased the celebrity model as a successful business - man stepping out of a luxury car wearing a veshti. He enters hotels and boardrooms where men in suits greet him. Nagarajan says sales soared by about 30% after the campaign and the company continues to see growth at a steady clip of 20-30% year-on-year through various innovations—like Velcro closure and pockets, and shorter veshtis for children. Ramraj now has 350+ stores, offering over 3,000 styles of dhotis as preferences vary from state to state. It is a different mundu game in Kerala. 'For me, being a Malayali, a mundu is a given. Unlike dhoti in north India, the culture of wearing a mundu is very much alive in Kerala. So one does not need to work extra hard to revive it,' says Kochi-based designer Sreejith Jeevan of Rouka. For Rouka, mundus happened by chance when Jeevan put up a picture of his own embroidered mundu. Enquiries poured in, giving him the cue that people are looking for something fresh. Rouka, whose mundus retail for Rs 2,500-3,500, sold 400 pieces last year. 'People go for mundus for various occasions. The Aksharamala mundu (with Malayalam letters) sells the most during Vidyarambham, our Kolam mundu is picked for Pongal. But the main sales happen around Vishu and Onam. Thanks to the multiple Onam celebrations now—at home, work, school and even gyms—the demand is robust.' Apart from Kerala, Rouka's orders come from Bengaluru, Mumbai and West Asia. That there's a need to revamp the wrap is clear to Menon. In his seventh year in business, he is busy doing that with the mundu—the wrap he's most familiar with. He says, 'Cultural significance is not sacrosanct. It should adapt to modern needs and not merely be seen packed by history and nostalgia.' His initial research revealed that the mundu commanded the biggest market share, about 65%, of all woven products in Kerala. There is a steady market for men's mundu which comes in two sizes: the double mundu (4 m) and the single mundu (2 m). The Kerala State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (Hantex) sold 14,120 premium mundus through its showrooms in the state in 2024-25 for Rs 1.4 crore. This is a 20% growth in value over the previous year. Ajith K, marketing manager, Hantex, says, 'When it comes to quantity, the numbers tend to fall for traditional garments like mundu, but value addition, like in the case of the premium mundu, which costs Rs 1,000- 1,900, has pushed up the figures.' Menon says there has not been much innovation in product and design: 'Most commercial brands or designers work simply by embroidering , screen printing, or hand painting.' In 2018, they did a line in the colours of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. In 2021, they launched a four-way double mundu and a two-way single mundu that can be worn in multiple ways with different-coloured karas or borders. Menon says, 'Additionally we also devised newer ways of wearing/ stitching the mundu to appeal to a larger urban audience and travellers.' This November, Menon is gearing up for The Mundu Project where Save The Loom will reimagine the mundu in collaboration with designers like Vivek Karunakaran, Gaurav Khanijo, Divyam Mehta, Gaurav Jai Gupta and Ujjawal Dubey NO STITCH, PLEASE The versatility of the mundu—a piece of unstitched fabric in a onesize-fits-all format—makes it easy to reinvent. It's the drapery that excites Ateev Anand, designer and founder of re-ceremonial, an ethical fashion brand that tries to understand how clothing within the subcontinent is worn and understood as a concept, and then gives it a modern, relevant con - text. The mundu was part of its first ever collection in 2022. 'Just by adding a pocket, the look turned, for want of a better word, fresh.' This year, he worked with the mundu as a co-ord set. But even now, he's not putting it out as retail pieces because he feels men need to be talked into it. 'The challenge is to offer it as an unstitched drape. If you tailor it too much, it loses its versatility,' says Anand. His bigger mission is to make people comfortable with making an effort to dress up. 'I want them to under - stand that the minute you invest time on how you dress, you invest time in yourself.' And for him, the unstitched draped garment is 'it'. The Bengal dhoti surged in popularity after actor Saif Ali Khan was seen in the traditional Mayur Puchha dhoti last year, catapulting Abhisek Roy, who designed it, to fame. Earlier this year, he debuted his Lakme Fashion Week collection that concentrated heavily on dhoti. He swears by the unstitched dhoti that can be worn in 100 different ways. 'There's slowly a change in men's approach to style. They are eager to experiment with silhouettes, fits and patterns. What's also causing a stir is a back-to-the-roots movement in fashion,' he says. 'And people are not restricting themselves to their own region.' Not just big players like Ramraj and MCR, but smaller enterprises are looking to capitalise on the niche style needs of men. Sari giant KKE Venkatachala Bhagavathar & Sons, which runs the online platform Muhurth, is tapping the formal dhoti segment apart from focusing on their staple, silk saris. Prasad Dayalan, founder of Muhurth, says, 'While silk dhotis have always been part of our offering, we have noticed a growing demand in recent years, especially from men who are particular about quality, design and colour.' Their silk dhotis with angavastram cost Rs 14,000 to Rs 50,000. Their B2B dhoti sales are 350-400 a month, while D2C sales are around 50, though it is not their primary focus. Silk dhotis are mostly produced in and around Salem. For Kerala mundu, the major hubs are Balaramapuram, Chendamangalam, Kannur and Kuthampully. Says Menon: 'A majority of mundus in Kerala are hand - loom, while the rest of the South mostly wears power - loom mundus that start at Rs 150.' GENDER NEUTRAL The gender fluidity of the garment is what made designer Pranav Misra, founder of Huemn—a contemporary Indian streetwear label—launch a lungi skirt in June. The design merges the comfortable lungi silhouette with elements of the skirt. Misra says, 'The lungi represents memories of fathers lounging at home, trips back to ancestral homes and the films we watched growing up. What our design does is make the garment accessible to a younger crowd, removing the constraints of gender, gaining the comfort of the skirt, while remaining true to its essential nature.' While these lowers are traditionally worn by men, women too are adding it to their wardrobe. Bengaluru-based artist and interior designer Susan John has three lungis that she picked from Tiruchirappalli . She wears it around the house. 'It's easy to move around in and I feel good.' Women are the prime clientele of The Sufi Studio's take on lungi and dhoti. The Goabased design studio's founder Varsha Devjani says women are more open to experimentation though the number of men, too, are rising for them. 'Most people feel it takes time to drape the garment and that it compromises mobility,' says Devjani. Their bestsellers have pockets, a belt to keep it freesize and a waistband to make it easy to wear. Reinvention is needed for these garments to survive, Menon reasons out why: one, handloom is still largely seen as a cottage industry and that creates a perception problem; two, weavers are still making conventional products; three, machine-made products do sell. Menon found a way around: they took the Kerala khadi mundu and worked with about 20 national designers to reinterpret it as garments. The ongoing project, since 2018, is a permanent exhibit at One Zero Eight by Save The Loom, their concept retail space in Kochi. 'As a mundu, it is not fetching enough to sustain weavers and is prone to competition from power looms,' he says. SOCIAL SARONGS One big push for draped garments is happening on social media, says content creator and Indian textiles hobbyist Pritha Dasmahapatra. 'Unlike in the South where these garments are everyday wear, the dhoti has not had as much acceptance in North India,' she says. Could that change? Delhi-based content creator Rohit Bose found his fame, thanks to dhotis, on Instagram (@boseoninsta). He started out as a fitness influencer and is currently on a multi-city draping workshop tour. 'I try to do many looks with dhotis—with blazer, shirts, T-shirts and denim— to modernise it,' says Bose, 35. He would like to see the dhoti go abroad—like the Met Gala or the Cannes red carpet. Goa-based designer Praful Makwana, who started documenting traditional Indian drapes in 2020, uses his Instagram account @mistermakwana as a drape chronicle. 'I try to connect with the younger lot by showcasing traditional drapes with modern accessories like leather jacket, harness, boots or in neon colours. It's unfortunate that we have to do all this to make our traditional wear seem 'cool',' he says. Menon recalls how economist Abhijit Banerjee wore a Suket Dhir ensemble that had a Kerala kasavu weave worn as a Bengal-style dhoti to receive the Nobel memorial prize in economics in 2019. 'It's a product that can have a universal market. It's on the verge of finding its moment,' says Menon. It's time to wrap it up.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
US tariff hike puts Indian auto parts and tyre exporters at disadvantage: ICRA
The Indian automotive component and tyre industry could face significant headwinds following the United States' decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Indian imports starting August 7, ratings agency ICRA has cautioned. With the US accounting for a substantial share — 27 per cent — of India's auto component exports and 17 per cent of tyre exports, the move puts domestic manufacturers at a strategic disadvantage compared to peers from countries like Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which enjoy lower or preferential tariff structures. 'The imposition of the tariff has raised concerns across India's automotive and tyre sectors, both of which have sizeable exposure to the US market,' ICRA noted in its analysis released on Saturday. The higher tariffs are expected to erode the competitiveness of Indian suppliers, particularly in segments such as off-highway vehicles and replacement tyres. Indian tyre makers, who earlier held a pricing advantage over Chinese exporters, may now lose ground to Southeast Asian rivals benefiting from better trade terms. What are the solutions? To mitigate the impact, ICRA expects Indian exporters to explore new geographies and double down on cost optimisation efforts. However, near-term margin pressures are likely, especially for firms with high dependence on US-bound shipments. India's auto components industry recorded a turnover of $80.2 billion (₹6.73 lakh crore) in FY25, registering a 10 per cent growth over the previous year. Exports during the same period rose by 8 per cent to $22.9 billion (₹1.92 lakh crore). Despite this growth, the new tariff regime threatens to slow momentum in the export-driven segments of the sector unless favourable trade negotiations or alternate market strategies are implemented quickly.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Boarding like a star: Inside the world of celebrity private charters
Diljit Dosanjh was seen relishing a spread of gourmet Indian food on a private jet, used during his Dil-Illuminati tour and Kareena Kapoor Khan took private charter for an award event. In 2009, Abhishek Bachchan broke a Guinness World Record by racing to five cities in twelve hours to promote Delhi-6. Years later, in 2016, Priyanka Chopra was juggling shoots for Bajirao Mastani (2015) in Mumbai and Quantico in Los Angeles. How do the A-list celebrities do it all? One answer: private charters. No long security queues. No baggage belts. No waiting for boarding announcements or getting mobbed at terminals. Just a curb-to-cabin glide that turns a 180-minute airport ordeal into a mere 15-minute pit stop. 'Post-pandemic, we've seen a significant surge in celebrity clientele, especially across India, the Middle East and Europe,' says Raaghav Belavadi, founder of private jet operator Hype Luxury. 'Celebrities are leveraging private jets for everything from spontaneous business trips and wellness escapes to quick weekend retreats,' he adds. Sachit Wadhwa, co-founder of Book My Charters, agrees. 'There was a time pre-COVID when one could count on fingers the celebrities that chartered… today, even younger actors, musicians, DJs and influencers fly private.' From bespoke biryani on board to Gulfstream G700s fitted with sleek aesthetics, the skies have never been more exclusive nor more crowded with famous names. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Harry Potter Actors Who Grew Up Stunningly. The Noodle Box Read More Undo Here's a front-row seat to the rarefied world of celebrity air travel, where time, privacy, and personalisation rule the flight plan. Amitabh, Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan travelled together in a private jet when Big B was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 'In a private jet, they can choose the travel time' Charter operators say private flights offer unmatched ease and privacy – 'you can take off and land whenever you want, there's no crowds. It's seamless, flexible and contactless travel." The only requirement? A minimum of three hours' notice. 'We at least need a 3‑hour heads up to arrange for the pilots, the crew, engineers and fueling the aircraft,' Maria explains. In Mumbai, general aviation (private charters) is unavailable during 8–10 am and 5–7:30 pm due to peak commercial traffic. Once aboard, celebrities avoid delays and distractions. 'The car is out and ready on the tarmac. The talent gets out of the jet, gets into the car, and the car is going to the hotel,' says Maria. Saved hours translate into productivity or rest. 'Celebs are using their time on board very productively. Even two hours saved adds up. They conduct meetings, read scripts, or just catch up on rest while flying,' adds Sachit Wadhwa of Book My Charters. There is a proper mirror and lav in the aircraft for the celebrities to get ready Maria Charles, Skyline Charters 'The pet also reaches comfortably' For vacations, celebrities often prefer to bring their pets, and with private charters, animals fly freely in the cabin, not locked away in cargo. 'There are some certifications that need to be done before getting the pet onboard. Usually, the pet is carried in a cage until it reaches the aircraft. Once the aircraft takes off, we release the pet and they can enjoy the flight,' shares Akash Nale of Flyyo. This shift reflects a global trend: flying pets in the cabin significantly reduces stress compared to cargo or cramped carriers under seats. All these jets can be customised with plush leather seats, lie-flat beds, bespoke lighting, entertainment systems, and custom monogramming 'Some want food from their favourite Delhi restaurant' "Food and beverage," says Sachit, "is a big part of the experience." Many celebrities — particularly on Delhi–Hyderabad routes — request signature dishes from favourite restaurants mid-air. One client, despite spending over Rs 50 lakh on a Delhi-Goa return flight, requested poha and Haldiram bhujia instead of a gourmet English breakfast - a surprising but welcome request, says Akash Nale of Flyyo. For early flights, the norm is plant-based or South Indian breakfasts, while lunch usually consists of light options like hummus or a tikka platter. Some are gluten-free, some want coffee from a specific café; on a Mumbai-Delhi run they'll ask us to serve food from their favourite restaurant for the return leg Sachit Wadhwa, BookMyCharters 'Staff bring the luggage early' When fans see paparazzi photos of Bollywood celebrities breezing through Mumbai's Kalina airport, they often wonder how stars manage to travel without luggage. "Staff bring the luggage hours earlier because screening takes time. The celebrity just walks through the terminal straight to the aircraft,' Sachit explains. Still, Maria adds, 'Security check is compulsory for everyone travelling, even at private terminals. ' The cost of flying private A round trip from Delhi to Mumbai and back onboard a Legacy 650 charter typically costs between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, the range depends on customisation, timing, and additional services involved. For events, shoots, or promotions, travel costs are often covered by production houses or event organisers. None of the Bollywood celebrities owns a private jet, confirms Maria and Sachit. All reports about A-list actors owning charter aircraft are false. There is only one South Indian celebrity who owns an aircraft. Ajay Devgn, during an interview with BookMyShow Unscripted, debunked the rumours of owning an aircraft, "No, not at all. I was planning to buy it and had secured one deal too. But it didn't go through. So, it is not true. ' (L) Priyanka Chopra with Nick Jonas' parents. (R) While promoting Selfiee Akshay Kumar entertained everyone in the private jet with his singing. 'Privacy & discretion define our business' Celebrities avoid commercial flights because they crave privacy away from the public glare. 'Bollywood is an area of interest for almost everyone… Everyone wants to see what a star is eating, how he behaves when the cameras are not rolling,' explains Sachit, adding, 'Privacy and being discreet are the most important aspects of our business. They need time to switch off. Our job is to provide that.' For celebs who fly private, discretion is built in. As Maria says, 'The crew is trained in a way that they will never ask for a selfie or autograph.' Some operators even require crew to sign NDAs. Raaghav adds, 'Each movement is orchestrated by operations teams in partnership with airport authorities and private security firms, ensuring zero exposure and complete peace of mind for our clients.' Private jet travel in India also means dedicated terminals – Kalina in Mumbai and the General Aviation terminal in Delhi – where celebrities can arrive just 10–15 minutes before departure. 'With these terminals, celebrity travel is more discreet,' says Sachit. Teams vet aircraft safety first Celebrity entourages also vet aircraft safety before flying. 'Even before the unfortunate Ahmedabad crash, people would enquire about the safety, 'When was the maintenance done…' Charter aircraft are regularly serviced and engineered, taken care of just like any commercial aircraft,' says Maria Charles of Skyline Charters. 'Of course, they ask about the safety, and we provide properly maintained aircraft. We have a maintenance agency, and they are taken care of.' Akash adds, 'There are certified engineers who do the necessary checks after every flight. If a minister is flying, the engineer has to be onboard for safety measures.' 'Celebs prefer first-class for flying international, take private jets for shorter hops' For long-haul international routes, especially US-bound, celebrities typically opt for first-class commercial flights, reserving private charters for domestic legs or short-haul travel. As Sachit Wadhwa of Book My Charters explains, 'If someone wants to travel from New York to Miami, they would use a charter plane because commercial flights often have luggage restrictions. So, we manage those travels too. ' Many operators offer seamless India–London service, often with a single refuel stop. 'We have aircraft that can fly non-stop from India to London and we even do trips to the USA with one stop. That stop is never more than 45 minutes. You just refuel, get fresh food on board, and then take off. Sometimes celebrities don't even realise there's a stop because they sleep through it. They stay onboard during refuelling,' adds Sachit.
