British Airways has completed a century since its first flight between London and Delhi. To celebrate the occasion, 100 India-based British Airways employees came together to express their sense of camaraderie and belongingness in a heartwarming video.
The short film shows happy colleagues walking onto a lawn and joining their hands to create a giant number 100. Waving to the camera above, the employees part of the formation manage to express the family-like spirit the airline is known for, while marking 100 years of the airline.
According to Lisa Tremble, chief people and corporate affairs officer, British Airways, “This video perfectly captures what it means to be a British Airways colleague – it’s about celebrating each and every individual’s originality, coming together to create something truly special. Our people are our greatest asset, and we are so proud to have more than 2,500 colleagues based in India – making it our largest colleague base outside of the UK.”
The 2,500-strong workforce in India includes cabin crew, airport colleagues, engineers and those who work in the airline’s CallBA customer-care centres. Some of the colleagues featured in the video have been associated with the airline for over three decades. Renu Arya, for instance, has worked as cabin crew for the airline for more than 35 years, while Aparna Malhotra, has been with the airline for more than 30 years and currently manages the airline’s day to day operation across the five cities that it operates from.
“Reaching this centenary has been a proud moment for British Airways. Not only does it reflect our long-standing commitment to this vibrant country but also celebrates the deep cultural connections we have built over the years,” enunciates Tremble.
Nilufer Charna, global cabin crew manager, who was also part of the formation, has had “the privilege of working for British Airways since July 1994”. Over a period of 30 years, she has “come to view British Airways as more than just a workplace – it’s a family, a place where you feel valued, supported, and truly at home.” In her words, “The people I work with are the heart of this company, and the bonds we share as part of the British Airways family are something we all cherish. I have loved taking part in our celebrations to mark 100 years of flying to India, it has been a highlight of my career.“
Elsewhere, British Airways colleagues have been celebrating the centenary in other ways. On 10 November, all flights between Delhi and London operated with a cabin crew made up entirely of Indian-origin colleagues for the first time, while new voiceovers recorded by Indian colleagues can be heard making announcements both at Indian airports and at London Heathrow.
Customers travelling throughout November can also celebrate by tucking into specially-curated centenary menus featuring ‘Masala Chai’ and the addition of over 100 new Indian inflight entertainment options.
For the first time in over eight years, British Airways also unveiled its latest TV advert and brand campaign created specifically for the Indian market. Aptly names ‘Family in the Skies’, the campaign is currently running across all cities that the airline operates to – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore – showcasing more than 100 India-based colleagues as the stars.
