India@70: From now onwards servicemen will first board Air India flights

As a mark of gratitude and respect for the defense personnel, they will be invited to board all Air India flights even before First Class and Business class travellers.

The state-owned carrier Air India has set a new precedent on Independence Day by allowing serving armed forces personnel to board the flight ahead of all other travellers.

As a mark of gratitude and respect for the defense personnel, they will be invited to board all Air India flights even before First Class and Business class travellers, according to Air India executive director Sarabjot Singh Uberoi as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Air India executive director wrote an email to all officials to implement the new decision. The mail accessed by the HT reads how the pre-boarding announcement will be made:

"Air India Star Alliance flight ___to ___is now ready for boarding through Gate No.___. We would like to invite serving members of our esteemed Armed Forces from Army, Air Force and Navy to board first."

Air India has passed on the instructions to all its ground handling officers and staff at boarding gates and asked "the same to be monitored for strict compliance."

OneIndia News