Tremendous, unparalleled initiative: Air India CMD on first direct flight to America via North Pole

Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, Ashwani Lohani on Monday termed the initiative taken by the national carrier to offer non-stop flights between India and North America using the existing North Polar routes for commercial air operations as "tremendous" and "unparalleled"."This is a tremendous unparalleled initiative by the national carrier that would save precious fuel and also reduce travel time for our flights to the USA. The passengers of the first flight would be given a commemorative certificate as a remembrance of this historic flight," Lohani said in a statement.The air operations are set to start from August 15.Earlier today, a statement from Air India read, "Air India is in a unique position to offer non-stop flights between India and North America. In our constant endeavor to conserve fuel, reduce travel times, improve aircraft utility and reduce carbon emission, we have flights via the Atlantic and the Pacific on these routes."The statement added, "Polar routes ..