Thales and Air India sign 10-year FlytCARE agreement for IFE maintenance

* Air India has selected Thales to provide FlytCARE turn-key maintenance for Thales’ AVANT Up inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, which will be installed on existing 777 and 787-8 aircraft (retrofit) as well as new 787-9 and A350 aircraft (linefit) over the next 2 years.

* The 10-year FlytCARE turn-key maintenance agreement provides Air India with comprehensive support for line maintenance, spares, repairs and logistics management.

* Thales is proud to partner with Air India to elevate the inflight passenger experience.

New Delhi, 20th April 2026:

Thales has announced today signing of a 10-year agreement with Air India for its FlytCARE services package. This agreement provides a full turn-key maintenance approach, covering line maintenance, spares, repairs and logistics management support for Thales’ inflight entertainment (IFE) systems on 57 Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Under the FlytCARE agreement, repair and maintenance will be delivered from Thales locations at Delhi and Mumbai airports in India, to expedite services and support Air India’s customer-centric modernization journey.

This agreement covers Air India’s 12 new widebody aircraft equipped with Thales’ AVANT UP inflight entertainment system. AVANT UP features a vast catalogue of content showcased on stunning 4K HDR touchscreens, along with 60W USB-C and USB-A fast charging for customer devices, and the ability to simultaneously pair two Bluetooth connections. Air India is the first carrier in the Asia Pacific region to fly with Thales’ AVANT Up solution.

Jeremy Yew, Senior Vice President – Engineering & Maintenance, Air India “Ensuring the highest levels of reliability and uptime for our inflight entertainment systems is critical to delivering a world‑class experience for our guests. Our partnership with Thales under the FlytCARE programme strengthens Air India’s engineering ecosystem with faster turnaround, deeper technical support, and enhanced component availability. This collaboration directly supports our fleet modernization and our commitment to engineering excellence.”

“Thales is grateful to Air India for their trust in awarding us a 10-year FlytCARE service contract for IFE equipment, which plays a key role in ensuring an exceptional passenger experience. We are honored to strengthen our long-standing partnership with Air India as they transform their inflight entertainment experience,” Thomas Got, Vice President, Aviation Global Services, Thales.

FOREWORD

Dear Readers,

 

Welcome to the latest edition of Aviation World. This is an incredibly significant issue for us, perfectly timed to align with several prominent aviation events unfolding across the globe.

 

Chief among them is the Farnborough International Airshow, taking place from July 20th to 24th, 2026, in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Ranked as one of the world’s premier events for aviation, aerospace, and defense, this year’s airshow arrives at a crucial moment. Against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, Farnborough provides an invaluable platform to engage with global leaders and gain firsthand perspectives on the future of the industry. Inside, you will find our comprehensive curtain-raiser report focusing on the show’s core themes, as well as the highly anticipated static and aerobatic aircraft displays.

 

On our front cover, we are proud to feature Capt. Vaibhav Goutham Suresh, Director of the School of Aviation, Logistics and Tourism Management (SALTM) at Galgotias University. In an exclusive interview, Capt. Suresh highlights how SALTM bridges the gap between academia and the runway, delivering a comprehensive curriculum that ensures graduates are industry-ready from day one. Complementing this, our special feature on SALTM dives deeper into how the institution maintains world-class academic standards and a cutting-edge learning environment.

 

We are also privileged to bring you exclusive insights from a stellar lineup of industry trailblazers in this edition, including:

  • Robin Glover-Faure, Chief Customer Officer of Acron Aviation
  • Karim Makhlouf, CCO of Royal Jordanian Airlines
  • Pallavi Joshi & Vimal Priya, the leadership powerhouse behind AirFleet Managers &Aviatrics Global
  • Wg. Cdr. Prem Kumar Garg (Retd.), CEO of IndiaOne Air

Each shares a detailed perspective on driving innovation, navigating current market dynamics, and establishing progressive frontiers within their respective sectors.

 

Beyond these highlights, this issue is packed with curated features and analytical pieces designed to keep you informed and inspired.

 

Finally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed advertisers and partners. Your unwavering support empowers us in our ongoing endeavor to make Aviation World a truly world-class publication with global reach and recognition.

 

Happy Reading!

 

The Editorial Team

 

Aviation World

NEWSLETTER

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We have started 2026 on a very positive note and we look forward to increase our footprints to more locations and induct many more new companies in our campaign.. Do write to us at : editor@aviationworld.in

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