MUMBAI: Starting Monday, 18 April, Air India will become the first Indian airline to provide its passengers with in-flight news bulletins from BBC World. The BBC’s international news and information channel will be part of the programming available on the carrier’s routes from India to several destinations including Europe, the US and East Asia.
The latest news bulletins from BBC World will be downloaded at Mumbai up to five times each day and then broadcast to passengers. Air India also has plans to record bulletins at European airports in order to provide its customers with updates on flights from Europe to India and several destinations in the US, informs a company release.
BBC World travel distribution account director Zina Neophytou says, “This agreement lets BBC World reach even more viewers on the move, supplying them with news and analysis of global events that they can trust. India is an enormously important market for the channel, and this agreement builds on our existing distribution with airlines around Asia.”
In an effort to better suit passengers travelling to and from India, Air India has been expanding its fleet, introducing new routes and upgrading its services in recent years. Jitender Bhargava, director, public relations, Air India, says that signing with BBC World is a critical step forward, the release adds.
“BBC World is known globally for its journalistic excellence, credibility and extensive international news coverage,” Neophytou says. “As the world grows smaller, it is essential that we keep our customers abreast of global happenings even as they travel, and we are delighted that we can do it with a trusted name like BBC World.
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