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AI marks Int'l Women's Day by flying 'All Women Operated' flights

Celebrating International Women's Day in a historic way, Air India flew more than ten all women crew flights on its international and domestic routes from 26 February to 8 March, 2017. The incredible women of Air India operated all types of wide and narrow body aircraft in its fleet.

Air India will also organise a unique tour from Delhi to Agra for those women who have never flown in spite of their engagement with aviation sector from many years.

In the series to create history, Air India operated round-the-world flight on Delhi-SFO-Delhi sector. To celebrate this achievement, a ceremony was organised and crew members of these flights were felicitated by the Air India.

The non-stop flight from Delhi to SFO travelled via the Pacific Ocean and returned via the Atlantic Ocean completing around trip of the world with 16 crew members and 250 passengers on-board.

With the travelling time of 15 hours and 10 minutes, the Boeing 777-200LR aircraft covered 15,300 km from Delhi-SFO at a speed of more than 1,000 km/hour. The flight while on its way to create history traversed 13 time zones. On return, the aircraft covered nearly 14,000 km and took 15 and half hours. Because of the wind pattern, on return the flight took more time.

Upon landing at San Francisco, the crew was ushered into a grand reception where they shared their record breaking flying experience.
During the evening, a fashion show was organised with the crew walking the ramp, quite a special moment for them and later spoke to the audience about their historic flight.

Ashwani Lohani, CMD, Air India, said, "Each person and every society must respect women. It is a moment of absolute pride and honour for Air Indians that our women employees are writing their names in the annals of the aviation sector on a global scale."

Speaking further on Joyride, he said "This initiative is being taken so that people working in the sector for long years get a chance to fly. There are many who might have gone into an aircraft but never flown on this. We will give them a chance to fly."

On 28 February, the crew in SFO met The Ninety-Nines, an international organisation of women pilots that promotes advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support. On March 1, a bus full of boisterous crew, great music, lots of dancing, visited to the famed Napa vineyards followed by a great lunch. On March 8, Air India will be taking around 50 women on 'Joy ride' from Delhi to Agra on its ATR-72 aircraft which will be operated and supported by all women crew.
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