Brands
Air India Express takes flight with culture at Wings India 2026
HYDERABAD: Air India Express brought a vibrant splash of music and colour to Wings India 2026, turning the Begumpet Airport tarmac into a lively concert stage. Padma Bhushan awardee Usha Uthup led a multi-state ensemble, joined by artists from across India, celebrating the nation’s rich cultural tapestry.
The backdrop for the performance was no ordinary stage. VT-RNT, the airline’s first line-fit Boeing 737-8, gleamed in a special livery inspired by Parsi Gara embroidery. Inside, passengers will enjoy roomy, ergonomically designed seats, fast-charging outlets, on-board ovens for hot meals, larger overhead bins, a quieter cabin, and Boeing’s Sky Interior with mood lighting, promising a modern and comfortable flying experience.
Air India Express chief marketing officer Siddhartha Butalia said, “In a digitally connected world, real experiences matter most. Music, festivals, and cultural showcases like this help travellers discover not just destinations but each other.”
Usha Uthup added, “Music is a universal language. Performing with artists from different states, with the Tales of India livery behind us, was a joyful tribute to our cultural unity.”
The airline also took home the Domestic Connectivity award, presented by the minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, recognising its efforts in connecting communities across India.
Air India Express’s Tales of India initiative celebrates regional art forms, from Kalamkari and Bandhani to Warli and Kanjeevaram. This cultural spirit extends to its ‘Gourmair’ in-flight dining, offering regional favourites and festive menus. The airline recently partnered with the Hornbill Festival and India’s first residential festival, Bloom in Green, reinforcing its role as a cultural ambassador in the skies.
From percussion-packed performances in 2024 to multi-state musical showcases in 2026, Air India Express continues to prove that flying can be more than transport, it can be a celebration of India itself.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
