Air India, a leading global airline in India, has achieved a significant milestone by transitioning its entire IT infrastructure to a cloud-based model, resulting in the closure of its historical data centers located in Mumbai and New Delhi. This strategic move positions Air India as one of the pioneering major global airlines to exclusively rely on cloud-based computational workloads.
The migration to a cloud-only environment enhances Air India’s technological agility and scalability, providing a catalyst for accelerating its digital transformation initiatives. This shift allows the airline to introduce new digital innovations and applications, thereby improving operational efficiencies, as well as enhancing both customer and employee experiences. Notably, the closure of the traditional data centers is expected to yield substantial annual net savings, nearing a million dollars.
Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Air India, emphasized the significance of the cloud-centric approach, stating, “For us, ‘cloud-only’ is not merely about cost savings; it represents a fundamental reimagining of computing and a crucial lever for accelerating innovation. Our transformation journey employs a strategic blend of Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service methodologies, fostering faster innovation and providing a flexible, reliable computational and networking infrastructure.”
The meticulous migration process, involving the transfer of computational workloads from mainframes, numerous servers, substantial data, and various equipment to the cloud, was expertly orchestrated by Air India’s top architects and engineers based in Silicon Valley, the U.S., as well as Gurugram and Kochi in India. Given the intricate interdependencies on diverse systems housed in the now-closed data centers, the transition was carefully planned and executed.
Acknowledging the historical role of the data centers, Dr. Ramaswamy recognized the contributions of the dedicated personnel who played integral roles in the migration. He stated, “Our colleagues, with years and decades of experience in these data centers, were essential participants in this complex migration exercise. They were equipped with new skills along the way to continue contributing to a modernized Air India.”
Air India’s historical embrace of high-performance computing and storage during the early computing era was reflected in the now-closed data centers, which played a pivotal role in driving innovations and automations across various aspects of the airline’s commercial and financial functions.
Mr. Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India & South Asia, expressed pride in Microsoft’s role in Air India’s cloud transformation journey. He highlighted the success of Air India’s migration to Microsoft Azure, showcasing the adaptability and effectiveness of the Microsoft cloud in supporting global airline industry leaders. Chandok emphasized the continued collaboration with Air India, enabling innovation, unleashing the potential of AI, and building a platform for faster decision-making and improved customer experiences.
With the complete transition to the cloud, Air India is poised to further accelerate its transformation journey, leveraging new capabilities and increased talent bandwidth for innovation. Anticipated outcomes include the launch of innovative solutions in customer-facing channels and employee experiences, powered by advanced data analytics and AI capabilities seamlessly embedded throughout the company’s applications, including Generative AI.
