FRASERS GROUP has again raised its stake in Boohoo, saying the Manchester-based online fashion retailer is an “attractive proposition”.
A filing to the London Stock Exchange revealed on Monday (31) that Frasers’s shareholding in Boohoo went up by a percentage point from 6.8 per cent to 7.8 per cent. It was worth £39 million on Friday (28) when Boohoo closed at 39.37p on the exchange, Market Watch reported.
Last week, Frasers said it had increased its stake in Boohoo from five per cent to 6.7 per cent.
It also purchased shares in firms including Currys, AO and Asos recently as the company promoted by Mike Ashley has diversified its portfolio.
Frasers, which owns the Sports Direct brand and which has both physical and online stores, said its investment in Boohoo was driven by its “laser focus on young female consumers”.
It comes after Boohoo, founded by Indian-origin entrepreneur Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane, raised its stake in cosmetics company Revolution Beauty from 27.1 per cent stake from 26.4 per cent.
Following a settlement deal with Boohoo reported last month, Revolution CEO Bob Holt and chairman Derek Zissman agreed to step down.
Site Navigation
Search
Latest Stories
Start your day right!
Get latest updates and insights delivered to your inbox.
Related News
More For You
FTA ‘will elevate India to be Britain’s most trusted partner’
May 07, 2025
WHAT does the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), welcomed on Tuesday (6) by the British and Indian prime ministers, Sir Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi, mean for Eastern Eye readers?
The FTA certainly opens up many more opportunities for British Indian businessmen (and women).
As Eastern Eye’s Asian Rich List demonstrates year on year, there are thousands of successful British Indian business folk. Basically, there is the chance for a lot of people to make a lot of money. They won’t be held back by the “can’t work” or “won’t work” philosophy currently crippling parts of UK society. Some of India’s dynamism is bound to be rub off on the UK.
First, many Eastern Eye readers are familiar with the way Indian bureaucracy works and have learned to navigate their way through subcontinental officialdom. Prominent industrialists – like the Hindujas or Lakshmi Mittal or Lord Swraj Paul – don’t need any lessons on how to do business in India.
But British businesses, run by white people, may need a helping hand. This is where a little handholding or joint partnerships could be very useful.
No one is going to spell this out, but when the FTA is formally signed, India will effectively replace the US as the UK’s trusted partner. While US president Donald Trump is in power, the British government will not know from one day to the next where it stands on tariffs.
To be sure, the UK’s relationship with Europe is of the greatest importance, but Germany, France, Italy and Spain, all with ageing populations, are going through difficult economic challenges. In marked contrast, the economy of India, which has a young population, is expected to grow by around seven per cent for the foreseeable future. For the UK to ride piggyback on the Indian economy offers this country a lifeline.
Politically, too, the FTA is more important for prime minister Sir Keir Starmer than it is for India’s Narendra Modi. In the local elections, Labour (and the Tories) took a hammering from Nigel Farage’s Reform party. The FTA with India is Starmer’s first major success.
It has certainly been a long time in the making.
It is worth remembering that in 2022, Boris Johnson, when he was prime minister, promised the FTA would be signed “by Diwali”. Progress was made under Johnson’s successor, Rishi Sunak, but he couldn’t get the treaty over the line. One reason was that he would not do anything that would be interpreted by the right wing of the Conservative party as making concessions on migration.
Kemi Badenoch, who was secretary of state for business and international trade under Sunak, even boasted that she had held up the FTA because she would not give ground on migration. In fact, India had not sought any concessions on immigration. It was just that Badenoch wanted to appear tough on immigration to the far right of her party.
Labour’s links with India had weakened in the 14 years the party was in opposition. But Jonathan Reynolds, the understated but competent business and trade secretary, was able to build on the negotiations that had been conducted under the Tories. He and the Indian commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, were able to reach agreement.
The FTA does give Labour a chance to rebuild its relationship with British Indian voters. On such issues as Kashmir and terrorism, Starmer will now go against his Pakistani-origin MPs and not do anything to upset Modi. Politically, the FTA is a godsend for Starmer. There are reports that in a cabinet reshuffle that is apparently imminent, he will sack the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy. That would undermine his efforts to repair relations with Indian origin voters. On her recent visit to Mumbai and Delhi, Nandy was able to sign a far-reaching cultural agreement with India. She also emphasised that she was the only Indian origin cabinet minister in Starmer’s government. But the prime minister, who is said to be “thin skinned”, has apparently not forgiven her for not backing him for the party leadership.
How the FTA works out in practice remains to be seen. But the British public will become aware, probably for the first time, that nearly a thousand companies from India have invested in the UK and created thousands of jobs.
Bilateral trade, currently $60 billion (£45bn), is projected to double by 2030 – that is only five years away.
The FTA will come as very bad news to the likes of Farage and the former Tory home secretary, Suella Braverman, because obviously the planes from India will be full of Indian executives. It may become difficult to get business class seats in both directions. Bur that is the price of prosperity.
In a post Brexit world, in which China is seen as an enemy and America no longer as a friend, India has the potential to become one of the UK’s most important trading partners. And that does have implications for Eastern Eye readers who work in the UK-India business corridor.
What the FTA means for India was explained by Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian high commissioner in the UK.
“This is our biggest and most ambitious FTA,” he told Eastern Eye.
It contained 26 chapters covering a wide range of areas, including notably IT security.
Young Indians who came to the UK to work for short periods would not be required to make National Insurance contributions for three years.
Students would also benefit, he said. The figures for 2023-2024 showed that out of 752,000 international students in the UK, the biggest cohort – 107,480 – came from India. China had been pushed into second place with 98,400.
“The FTA will create new opportunities for India and the UK,” the high commissioner declared.
That appears to be especially true for Eastern Eye readers.
Keep ReadingShow less
Most Popular
Current Issue
Disney to open new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi in partnership with Miral
May 07, 2025
The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to develop a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, marking its first such venture in the Middle East. The project will be delivered in collaboration with UAE-based destination developer Miral, and will be located on Yas Island, already a hub for entertainment and leisure in the United Arab Emirates.
This new development will become Disney's seventh theme park resort globally. According to the announcement made on 8 May, Disney will not be contributing capital to the project. Instead, Miral will fully fund, develop, and build the park, while Disney Imagineers will oversee the creative design and operational aspects. The entertainment giant will earn royalties from the venture.
Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, said in a statement, "This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity. As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways."
Although Iger declined to provide an exact timeline for the opening, he mentioned that such projects typically take between 18 months and two years for design and development, and around five years for construction. However, no firm dates have been committed to at this stage.
The announcement follows Disney’s strong performance in the second quarter of its 2024 fiscal year, during which its experiences division, which includes theme parks, resorts, cruises, and merchandise, saw a 6% year-on-year increase in revenue. The division accounted for 37% of the company's total revenue and nearly 60% of its operating income.
"Experiences is obviously a critical business for Disney and also an important growth platform," said Iger during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. "Despite questions around any macroeconomic uncertainty or the impact of competition, I’m encouraged by the strength and resilience of our business."
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, described the project as a "new frontier in theme park development". He added, "Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront, which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways."
The resort will feature themed accommodation, dining and retail experiences, combining Disney’s storytelling legacy with the modern and cultural identity of Abu Dhabi. While specific attractions have yet to be revealed, the park is expected to reflect both local flavour and globally recognised Disney characters and themes.
Yas Island, the park's future home, is already a major entertainment and tourism destination. It currently hosts attractions such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. The area is also home to the Yas Marina Circuit, the venue for the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and features shopping destinations like Yas Mall and leisure venues including an award-winning golf course.
Disney has been gradually increasing its presence in the UAE through retail partnerships and touring shows such as "The Lion King" and "Disney on Ice". The idea of establishing a permanent resort in the region dates back to 2017 or 2018, according to Iger, but plans were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and leadership changes within the company.
The UAE location is seen as strategically valuable for Disney due to its accessibility. Around one-third of the world’s population lives within a four-hour flight of the country, giving the new resort access to a potential tourism market of approximately 500 million people.
Miral, the project’s developer, is known for its expertise in immersive destinations. The company is expected to handle the construction and financing of the park entirely, while Disney provides creative and operational guidance. This approach mirrors similar licensing deals the company has struck in regions like China.
Though not part of the $60 billion Disney has pledged to invest in its parks globally over the next decade, the Abu Dhabi project signals the company's ambition to expand its physical footprint and audience reach beyond traditional markets.
"It’ll be much larger than anything that’s currently here," D’Amaro said during an interview with CNBC, referring to the scale and scope of the planned development. The Abu Dhabi resort is intended to offer a deeply immersive experience, leveraging technological innovation and storytelling to engage visitors from the region and beyond.
As planning and development get underway, more details about attractions, themes, and opening timelines are expected to be released in the coming years.
Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer and Modi shake hands during a bilateral meeting in the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazil, on November 18, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images
UK and India finalise free trade agreement after three years of talks
May 06, 2025
INDIA and the United Kingdom on Tuesday concluded a long-awaited free trade agreement after three years of negotiations. The deal, finalised in the context of past US tariff actions under president Donald Trump, is the most significant trade pact for the UK since it left the European Union.
The agreement between the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies aims to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion by 2040 through improved market access and eased trade restrictions.
"These landmark agreements will further deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies," Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said.
Delighted to speak with my friend PM @Keir_Starmer. In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention. These landmark agreements will further deepen our…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 6, 2025
The pact lowers tariffs on a range of goods including whisky, advanced manufacturing components, and food items such as lamb, salmon, chocolates, and biscuits. It also sets quotas for automobile imports on both sides.
Both countries are also working on separate bilateral agreements with the United States to remove some of the tariffs introduced during Trump’s presidency, which had disrupted global trade. The UK-India deal gained urgency amid these developments.
ALSO READ: India accepts limited UK visa concessions to push trade deal
"We are now in a new era for trade and the economy. That means going further and faster to strengthen the UK's economy," prime minister Keir Starmer said.
"Strengthening our alliances and reducing trade barriers with economies around the world is part of our plan for change to deliver a stronger and more secure economy here at home."
The agreement opens up parts of India’s protected market, including the automobile sector, and is seen as a model for India’s approach to future trade discussions with the United States and the European Union.
Negotiations began in January 2022 and became symbolic of Britain’s post-Brexit trade ambitions. The talks faced several delays as the UK went through four prime ministers since then, and both countries held elections last year.
ALSO READ: UK, India announce £400m trade and investment deals
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
“The prime minister spoke to the prime minister of India Narendra Modi today.
“The leaders began by celebrating the landmark UK-India Free Trade Agreement announced today – a deal which will add billions to the UK economy, boost wages and deliver on this government’s Plan for Change.
Delighted to speak with my friend PM @Keir_Starmer. In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention. These landmark agreements will further deepen our…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 6, 2025
“In a huge economic win for the UK, delivering for working people and British businesses, the prime minister underscored the need to go further and faster to get things done, to secure and renew our country.
“Through pragmatism and purpose, the leaders noted that this historic deal is the biggest the UK has done since leaving the EU, and the most ambitious India has ever done. Prime minister Modi also thanked the prime minister for his decisive leadership in getting the deal over the line.
“Turning to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir last month, the prime minister reiterated his deep condolences at the tragic and senseless loss of life.
“Finally, prime minister Modi extended an invitation to India, which the prime minister was pleased to accept and said he looked forward to visiting India at the earliest opportunity.
“They looked forward to speaking soon.”
Key elements of the UK-India trade deal:
- Bilateral trade: Currently at £42.6 billion, expected to grow by £25.5 billion annually from 2040.
- Market access: India to reduce import duties on whisky, medical devices, machinery, lamb, salmon, chocolate, soft drinks, biscuits, cosmetics, and aerospace products.
- Whisky tariffs: Cut from 150 per cent to 75 per cent, then down to 40 per cent by the 10th year.
- Automobiles: India to reduce tariffs to 10 per cent under a quota, from over 100 per cent.
- Tariff impact: India's tariff cuts expected to exceed £400 million based on 2022 data, with the value expected to more than double in 10 years.
- Trade ranking: India was the UK’s 11th largest trading partner in 2024.
- Post-Brexit milestone: UK described the deal as its most economically significant trade agreement since leaving the EU.
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
WhatsApp ends support for these smartphone models from May 5
May 06, 2025
Some iPhone users will lose access to WhatsApp features including messaging, voice and video calls from 5 May, as the platform ends support for certain older devices.
The Meta-owned messaging service has confirmed it will now only support iPhones running iOS 15.1 or later. As a result, three older Apple devices — the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus — will no longer be able to run the app after the update takes effect.
These models, released over a decade ago, are unable to upgrade to the required iOS version. Once support ends, WhatsApp functions such as chats, group messaging, and calls will cease to work on these devices.
In a statement, WhatsApp said: "Starting 5 May 2025, only iOS versions 15.1 and newer will be supported."
The company explained that this decision is part of a routine process. "Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating systems we support and make updates," the company added.
"Every year we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp."
The move is in line with WhatsApp’s regular practice of phasing out support for older devices and software versions. Similar updates have previously affected Android phones as well.
Users of newer iPhones or those running iOS 15.1 and above will not be affected by the change. The company is encouraging those with unsupported devices to consider upgrading in order to continue using WhatsApp services.
iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus were all launched between 2013 and 2014 and have since been overtaken by numerous newer models. Apple ended iOS update support for these devices some time ago, making it impossible for users to install more recent versions of the operating system.
For affected users, switching to a newer device is now the only way to retain access to WhatsApp. The platform has not announced any alternative method of support for those unable to upgrade their phones.
Users can check their iOS version by navigating to Settings > General > About on their iPhone. Those running a version older than iOS 15.1 and unable to update will no longer be able to use WhatsApp from the specified date.
This change is aimed at maintaining app performance, security standards, and compatibility with newer operating systems.
Keep ReadingShow less
On International Women’s Day 2025, Air India operated flights with all-women teams across the air and on the ground
Air India’s success takes flight on women’s wings
May 05, 2025
ON A recent Air India flight from Heathrow to Delhi in a brand new Airbus A350, a routine announcement from the flight deck said the aircraft was under the command of Neelam Ingale and Ruhani Dogra.
One of the female members of the cabin crew was surprised that Eastern Eye was surprised that both the pilot and co-pilot were women. This was nothing unusual, she indicated.
When the aircraft hit turbulence and passengers were asked to put on their seatbelts, the pilots came across as calm and reassuring.
Eastern Eye learned later that 16 per cent of the pilots in Air India are women, while the industry average is five per cent.
Women comprise 46 per cent of Air India’s total workforce of 30,000 – 21 per cent of staff in ground services, 27 per cent in finance and 22 per cent in the digital and technology division. This proportion has been growing since the Tata Group took over Air India following the national carrier’s privatisation in 2022. It had previously been nationalised in 1953.
The Parsees who have run Tata over the years have always believed in promoting women.
It seems that, almost without anyone noticing, a social revolution has taken place in India, brought about by women in urban society entering the workplace.
A briefing session on opening cabin doors in the event of an emergency
And what is happening in Air India is reflective of that change. If the Indian economy is doing well, it is partly – possibly even mainly – due to its women.
At Air India’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Gurugram, just outside New Delhi, there is a training academy where women learn a range of skills – from using cosmetics to look their best (“smoky eyes, soft lips” is an option), to serving the right wines and using the correct China and cutlery, putting out on-board fires, opening aircraft doors in an emergency, and dealing with an incapacitated pilot.
From flying to engineering, no area is now closed to women.
All this is a far cry from the world portrayed in Satyajit Ray’s film, Mahanagar (The Mighty City), when tensions erupt in a middle-class Bengali family in Kolkata when the wife becomes its sole bread winner. The woman’s father-in-law would much rather beg for money from his former students while her husband feels humiliated, especially after he is made redundant from his job with a bank. The film, made in 1963, was described by the critic Philip French as a classic to be set alongside Ray’s famous Apu trilogy.
Shradha Dabral checks an aircraft engine
The women working in Air India or in corporate India most probably have not seen or even heard of the film and have generally escaped the strict patriarchal society depicted by Ray. Of course, many career women rely on domestic help for cleaning and cooking.
One well-off woman, with homes in London and Delhi, told Eastern Eye: “My maidservant has a son and a daughter. She was very keen that I help her daughter financially with her education, which I did. The girl rejected the offer of marriage, applied for and secured a government job, and has now moved from Delhi to Patna (the capital of Bihar), where she is an independent woman earning `100,000 (£879) a month (a handsome salary in Indian terms).”
It does seem to be the case that across India, even servants want their sons and especially daughters to be educated.
Air India’s CEO and managing director, Campbell Wilson, said: “At Air India group, we take pride in the fact that women leading from the front is a norm, rather than an exception. India leads the world in the number of women commercial pilots and Air India group is significantly contributing to this achievement. We have been focusing on nurturing a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce and have women representation across key decisionmaking roles, driving our transformation journey.”
A session on cosmetics and grooming
In a briefing session with a small group of visiting journalists from the UK, Wilson was asked whether the proportion of women pilots encouraged others to put themselves forward.
“Absolutely,” he replied. “Some of our cadet batches now are 50- 50, or more – and not by design.”
The airline’s management, too, is helping the process. Air India’s academy plans to train some 50,000 Air India professionals in the next few years, “encompassing a wide spectrum of roles including pilots, cabin crew, engineers and security personnel. The curriculum seamlessly blends both classroom training and practical application to foster industryready aviation professionals.
Air India is also in the process of setting up over 20 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) bays within the academy to support the airline’s existing and future Airbus and Boeing fleet and ensure crew readiness ahead of aircraft deliveries.”
The airline has placed an order for 570 new aircraft, the biggest in aviation history – and this number may not be enough. It is also spending £500 million upgrading existing wide-bodied aircraft.
It said: “Air India group marked International Women’s Day on March 8 with a demonstration of its commitment to reinforce the importance of inclusivity at the workplace, upholding the Tata Group’s commitment to diversity and promoting a level playing field for its employees.
Air India employees are trained in handle pilot incapacitation emergencies
“In resonance with #AccelerateAction, the theme of International Women’s Day 2025, the Air India group took to the skies with flights managed by all-women teams across functions in the air and on the ground, while also unveiling a series of initiatives for women employees and special offers for women passengers.
“In all, 18 flights operated by Air India and Air India Express on select international and domestic routes, were managed by allwomen teams that included pilots, cabin crew, crew roster planning analysts scheduling duties for the all-women crew onboard, flight dispatchers and a meteorologist planning and monitoring flights from departure to arrival, crew controllers tracking all crew ensuring compliance with flight duty time and rest requirements and a female operations control duty manager overseeing Air India’s day of operation.
“Destinations to which these flights were operated included Melbourne, the longest among them, Heathrow, Dammam, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Varanasi, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada and Guwahati.”
The airline also said that “at an organisational level, Air India has launched the #HerMatters initiative to assist its women employees navigate critical life events, both on their professional and personal fronts, for a better work-life balance. The airline organised webinars and panel discussions on topics such as financial independence for women, return to work after maternity and shift from support to sponsorship to nurture women leaders within the airline.
“Air India group has also decided to organise sessions on careers at girls’ schools in Delhi to inspire young women to pursue careers in aviation. Under this initiative, Air India employees will visit these schools and share their experiences and growth opportunities in Indian aviation.”
Between March 1 and 8, Air India offered discounts on fares if there was a woman in the group.
The visiting journalists had a briefing on the journey from “saris to stripes” – stripes are worn by pilots – from a senior woman executive, Anjali Birla, a member of the customer experience team.
Women are taught how to bring fires under control
She said: “I’d like to highlight that 46 per cent of our workforce are women. Perhaps one thing that makes Air India unique is the fact that the gender ratio is not something that we’re going after. It’s a lot more organic, and that makes it a great place for women to work.
“One of our biggest assets is our cabin crew and pilots. They have trained with the best technology and are repeatedly trained to ensure a consistent experience across all our aircraft, new or old.”
After showing a video, Birla spoke about “our fabulous new uniforms”, designed by Manish Malhotra, a famous designer who makes clothes for Bollywood and for high society.
“They’re modern, functional, chic, but at the same time, maintain their Indian heritage. The women are wearing a sari, the men bundh gala, and the pilots sharp, double-breasted suits.”
Also shown was “a fusion between pants and a sari. Draping a sari can be a bit of a challenge, but these are ready to wear. You just kind of slip them on. All the outfits are extremely functional. They’re comfortable. They’re designed to be able to service a nine and a half hour flight from London to Delhi.”
The airline provided some background on its saris: “The iconic Air India sari made its debut in the 1960s when the airline wanted to project India as an exceptional travel destination. The uniform featured exquisite silk saris complemented by the bouffant hair style which went onto become a huge hit. More variations in the uniform were introduced in this period, including the ghagra choli and the salwar suit. The ghagra choli as the uniform truly epitomised the glamour and the golden age of flying. The sari continued as the uniform mirroring the fashion trends over the years – the bold printed saris of the 1970s or the muted hues of the 1980s.”
Malhotra, whose clients include members of the Saudi royal family as well as Bollywood stars, among them Shabana Azmi, Rekha, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kajol, Karisma Kapoor and Karan Johar, said in a statement: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to design the uniforms for Air India. It is a privilege to be able to contribute to the national flag-bearer and showcase the elegance and charm of Indian fashion.
Crew members attend a session on fine dining etiquette
“My aim was to create uniforms that capture the essence of India’s diverse culture and traditions while also embodying a modern and sophisticated look. By incorporating quintessential hues that are symbolic to India, I hope that these uniforms not only make the crew feel proud but also leave a lasting impression on the guests, representing the warmth and hospitality that India is known for.”
One of the more fascinating classes Eastern Eye attended was on cosmetics where women – and men – listened intently to their teacher so that what god had created could be enhanced.
In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Viola, dressed as a boy and bearing a message from the lovestricken Duke Orsino, has a little dig at Lady Olivia, hinting her beauty may owe something to the use of cosmetics: “Excellently done, if God did all.”
Phrases used by the teacher included “blush peach or coral shades complementing the eyes”; “charcoal grey is for supervisors”; “smoky eyes, soft lips”; “black or dark brown mascara, smudge it with a brush”; “do not go for something salmon or orange in colour” (a tip that Donald Trump has clearly ignored); and “we have our hair guidelines, shaving guidelines for men”; and so on. The attention to detail was meticulous.
A world away, Shradha Dabral, a junior aircraft maintenance technician at Delhi Airport, talked about her daily routine.
“Every day in aviation is a new beginning,” she said. “I work in line maintenance as an aircraft maintenance technician, so my daily work involves carrying out pre-flight inspections, transit inspections, troubleshooting, and rectifying problems so the aircraft are back in the air as soon as possible and are in an airworthy condition. There is no better feeling than seeing an aircraft that you’ve worked on take to the skies.”
She continued: “As aviation is traditionally seen as a male-oriented field, my dad was slightly worried but also proud of me for standing against the odds and excelling in a job that is both unique and outstanding.
Designer Manish Malhotra
“My belief is that an aircraft does not know if I am a man or a woman. Then why should I have that distinction? I have always done the work I have been given with rigour and perfection, and that helped me propel ahead. This is a tough industry even for men, as it requires discipline and alertness.
“I have been fortunate as gender hasn’t played a part in my work at this organisation. But that’s not the case for everyone, and women still face challenges due to their gender in many organisations. I don’t believe I have experienced this during my career with Air India, even though I’ve always worked in roles stereotypically undertaken by men. Air India has been a pillar of support in this journey.
“As employees, we get concessional air travel tickets for family. I started saving money, and by the end of the year, I booked a flight for my parents and my grandmother to visit Pashupati Nath in Kathmandu and paid for their holiday. For the first time in her entire life, my grandmother boarded an airplane and saw what an airport and an airplane look like.”
Keep ReadingShow less
Load More
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc