MAM
Air India collaborates with KidZania
Mumbai: Air India, a global airline, in collaboration with KidZania, the globally acclaimed educational entertainment brand, announced the launch of the Air India Aviation Academy at KidZania’s theme parks in Noida and Mumbai. At the Academy, children will be able to step into the roles of pilots and cabin crew aboard a model aircraft and understand the nuances of a career as a pilot and cabin crew in the aviation industry.
The academy, where children will be able to see the model of Air India’s fleet and its other facilities in the airline’s new branding, colours and livery, aims to enhance children’s educational skills by offering them unique opportunities to learn about the aviation industry through interactive and engaging role-playing activities.
Through this collaboration, Air India and KidZania aim to cultivate a new generation of aviation enthusiasts and professionals by providing a platform where children can engage in realistic role-playing scenarios, such as piloting an aircraft and working as cabin crew. The academy seeks to strengthen psychomotor, cognitive, emotional and social skills among children.
The Air India Aviation Academy at KidZania has been built to provide young enthusiasts with an opportunity to engage in activities that simulate real-life aviation tasks. The academy will provide an authentic and dynamic platform to ignite children’s curiosity and imagination. Here children can discover, explore and learn about the aviation industry in a fun and engaging way.
Air India head of marketing Sunil Suresh said, “Air India aims to create meaningful experiences for children and inspire upcoming generations. The Air India Aviation Academy at KidZania’s Noida and Mumbai theme parks will provide young enthusiasts with hands-on training in aviation skills, fostering an understanding of the industry and the importance of safety and teamwork.”
As part of the partnership, members of Air India’s frequent flyer programme Flying Returns which was recently upgraded to offer greater ease, rewards and recognition, will be able to earn seven Flying Returns points for every Rs 100 spent on tickets to visit the Air India Aviation Academy at KidZania’s theme parks in Noida and Mumbai.
KidZania India chief marketing Officer Rahul Dhamdhere said, “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Air India through the launch of the Air India Aviation Academy. This academy will provide children with a hands-on understanding of the aviation industry, blending education with entertainment. Our goal is to spark an interest in aviation careers from an early age, and with Air India’s support, we can offer an unparalleled experience that is both fun and educational.”
At the KidZania theme parks in Noida and Mumbai, there will be additional features such as a selfie point for kids and parents with the Air India aircraft in the background, a section on the history of Air India, and Air India quiz, and insights into Air India’s new aircraft fleet and destinations. At the entrance, children will be able to get an insight into the real world of aviation via a live flight tracker display that will showcase real-time information on aircraft flying to various parts of the world.
A first in India, this initiative highlights Air India’s commitment to nurturing future talent and KidZania’s dedication to immersive educational experiences as well as inculcating values of responsibility, solidarity, sensitivity, harmony, courage, self-confidence and professional ethics among children.
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Trump announces $300bn Texas oil refinery with Reliance, calls it the biggest in US history
First new US refinery in 50 years planned at Brownsville port with Reliance
WASHINGTON: The United States may soon see the first brand-new oil refinery built on its soil in half a century.
Donald Trump announced a proposed $300 billion refinery project in Texas, calling it a landmark moment for American energy production and jobs.
Posting on Truth Social on 10 March, Trump said the facility would be built at the Port of Brownsville and developed by a company called America First Refining, with major investment from India’s Reliance Industries.
The announcement frames the project as a centrepiece of the administration’s push for “energy dominance”, with Trump claiming it would deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity to South Texas.
If realised, the plant would mark the first all-new major refinery constructed in the United States since the 1970s. In recent decades, oil companies have largely chosen to expand existing facilities rather than build new ones, citing high costs, regulatory hurdles and environmental scrutiny.
Trump described the proposed investment as the “biggest in US history”, positioning it as proof that policy changes such as streamlined permits and lower taxes are drawing large-scale energy investments back into the country.
The refinery is planned for the Port of Brownsville, a strategic Gulf Coast location that provides easy access to shipping routes and export markets.
A key partner in the project is Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The company already runs the world’s largest refining complex in Jamnagar, India, making it one of the most experienced operators in large-scale petroleum processing.
The Texas venture would mark a significant step for the group into America’s domestic refining sector, potentially strengthening industrial ties between the US and India.
The proposed refinery is being promoted as a next-generation facility capable of processing American shale oil while maintaining high environmental standards. Trump said it would be “the cleanest refinery in the world”, although the specific technologies behind that claim have not yet been detailed.
Industry observers also note that the $300 billion figure is unusually large for a refinery project, and analysts are waiting for more clarity on whether the number reflects total construction costs, long-term infrastructure investment, or broader economic impact estimates.
As of 11 March, Reliance Industries had not publicly confirmed the investment size or the structure of its involvement.
For now, the announcement has sparked equal parts excitement and curiosity in energy markets. If the plan moves from promise to pouring concrete, the refinery could reshape the Gulf Coast energy landscape, and reopen a chapter in American refining that has been quiet for nearly fifty years.
