Air India to be official carrier for Commonwealth Games

The airline today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee to be the official carrier during the Games, which is scheduled to be held between October 3 and 14, 2010.

"Air India has become the first company to be associated with the Commonwealth Games, and we will put our best foot forward as an official carrier," Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav said at the signing ceremony.
"We would ensure world class services for the athletes and other members of the contingents who will come here to take part in the games," Jadhav said on the occasion.
Air India will also charter aircraft and take help from other foreign airlines to bring athletes, he said.

He said that the national carrier would consider re-routing and upgrading of aircraft as per the requirement depending on the size of foreign delegations.
"Air India will also consider deploying the Air India charter services rather than commercial flights to accommodate large contingents from certain countries or regions," he said.
The airline will also come up with special holiday packages and other value added services for tourists visiting the country during the Games.

Chairman of Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi termed the signing of the MoU as a significant step towards ensuring a "great Games experience" for all athletes, officials and fans who would visit the national capital during the sports event next year.

The 12-day event will open Oct 3, 2010 at the 75,000-capacity Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the heart of New Delhi.
Over 5,000 athletes from 53 countries that were once part of the British empire will compete in 17 disciplines. The event is the biggest India will host since the Asian Games in 1982 that saw 4,595 athletes from 33 nations take part in 21 events.