Name: Rishikant Singh
Title: Regional Manager
Company, city: Air India, New York City
Number of employees: 67 in the United States and Canada
Recent project: Preparing to announce and launch Air India’s newest North American gateway
First job: Working for a New York City garment company as its “man Friday”
Little-known fact about you: I’m extremely shy by nature.
Your Business
Essential business philosophy: Always look for ways to deliver excellent service and strong value to customers.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Leadership can’t do everything alone. Building a culture of teamwork across the organization is essential.
Yardstick of success: Both personally and professionally, success means staying informed about the world and being able to create meaningful change.
Rishikant Singh as a Traveler
What is the most important item you take when traveling? A change of clothes in my carry-on, my personal devices and a power bank.
How do you spend your time on board? I maximize in-flight entertainment and use the time to rest.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? In Mumbai, Sadichha — a small, family-run spot known for its homemade coastal cuisine.
What is your favorite destination in the world? Anywhere I haven’t been yet — I enjoy discovering new places.
About Air India
What can premium travelers expect from Air India’s business-class product?
Premium travelers can expect strong value paired with welcoming service. Air India focuses on warm hospitality and aims to provide a calm, comfortable experience for its business-class passengers.
Tell our readers about the Flying Returns loyalty program.
Launched ten years ago, Flying Returns has grown to nearly 1.2 million members globally, with about 200,000 in North America. The program features three tiers — Maharaja Club, Silver and Leading Edge — and benefits from integration with Star Alliance. Members enjoy generous bonus structures, options to pool and buy miles at reasonable rates, and ongoing enhancements planned to improve the program further.
What can travelers expect from Air India in 2016, particularly in North America?
On Dec. 2 we launched non-stop service between San Francisco and Delhi, a milestone route connecting major technology hubs in the U.S. and India. Operated with an upgraded Boeing 777-200, the roughly 19-hour flight is one of the longest non-stop services in the world and represents an important step in expanding Air India’s global network.
North America and Europe remain strategic markets. Target gateways include Washington, D.C.; Dallas/Fort Worth; Houston; Toronto; Rome; Milan; Dublin; Manchester; and Barcelona as part of continued network growth and improved connectivity for travelers.