Business Story
Virgin Atlantic and TCS Extend Two-Decade Partnership to Modernize Airline Operations with AI-led Solutions

The seven-year extended partnership will modernize Virgin Atlantic’s core systems with AI-driven intelligence to power personalized, connected, sustainable experiences for the skies
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has expanded its two-decade-long strategic partnership with Virgin Atlantic, a premium long haul UK airline, to accelerate its digital transformation journey. Under this renewed seven-year agreement, the two organizations will deepen their collaboration to strengthen the technological foundations of Virgin Atlantic, enable modern airline retailing, deliver greater operational resilience, and enhance customer experience.
As part of this long-term engagement, TCS will modernize Virgin Atlantic’s core technology operations by implementing a cloud-first, AI-powered digital core that enhances business agility, improves resilience of systems, and allows for higher scale of operations. TCS will implement a modern, AI-powered technology estate that will unify the airline’s technology assets and deploy an advanced Technology Command Centre. This will serve as the nerve centre for transforming Virgin Atlantic’s technology operations. Virgin Atlantic’s Technology Command Centre, co-developed with TCS, will provide real-time operational insights to enhance decision making, streamline technology operations and empower front line staff with up to date, contextual data. This will support the elevation of both customer and crew experiences, enabling efficient, smarter and more sustainable journeys, and superior hyper-personalized customer experience across every touchpoint of airline travel.
Oli Byers, Chief Financial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, said, “We exist to make our customers smile, it’s that simple. As we look ahead to this next phase of our digital transformation, technology will enable us to deliver smarter, simpler, and more memorable experiences. TCS has been a partner for more than two decades and together we’ll continue to build towards our vision of becoming the most loved travel company, powered by AI technology to modernize our systems, drive efficiency and deliver for our customers.”
With deep aviation expertise and contextual knowledge, TCS will utilise its proprietary solutions such as TCS Cognix™ and TCS AI WisdomNext™ to accelerate transformation, enable experience-centric services, and enhance service delivery. TCS’ bouquet of technology solutions will support Virgin Atlantic in building a resilient and sustainable digital core, enabling the airline to innovate continuously while delivering value across revenue, efficiency, and customer experience metrics, and become sustainably profitable. These solutions will be delivered through a dedicated onsite team of TCS associates equipped with a deep contextual knowledge of Virgin Atlantic’s environment.
Amit Kapur, Country Head – UK & Ireland, Tata Consultancy Services said, “At TCS, we believe being perpetually adaptive is a necessity in today’s dynamic business landscape. Our two-decade partnership with Virgin Atlantic is a testament to a shared vision. By combining our deep aviation expertise with advanced capabilities in data, AI, and engineering, we’re helping Virgin Atlantic build intelligent, scalable digital ecosystems and redefine the future of travel.”
TCS has been a transformation partner to Virgin Atlantic which ferried over 5 million passengers worldwide in 2024 and connects over 30 destinations globally. For over two-decades TCS has been instrumental in driving innovation and agility across mission-critical programs for the airline; spanning crew, cargo, engineering and enterprise platforms. Building on this strong legacy, this extended partnership marks a new chapter in collaboration, laying the foundation for a future-ready airline that will continue to set new benchmarks for the airline industry.
With three decades of leadership in aviation, TCS partners with the world’s leading airlines, offering consulting-led innovation, cognitive-powered portfolio of business, and technology and engineering services. TCS leverages industry-specific solutions, like TCS Aviana™, a unified, autonomous, digital, cloud-ready solution for intelligent airline operations. Its deep industry knowledge will help Virgin Atlantic unlock new growth opportunities and drive innovation across its entire business ecosystem.
This partnership demonstrates TCS’ dedication to being a trusted transformation partner for leading businesses in the UK. TCS has operated in the UK for 50 years and works with over 200 of the nation’s best-known and most-loved businesses. TCS holds a leadership position in software and IT services in the UK market, working with around half of the FTSE100. TCS has been ranked the number one IT service provider for customer satisfaction in the UK in an independent survey of CIOs from the largest IT spending organizations in the country.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2024, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the eighth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs 8,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 28 destinations across four continents throughout the year.
Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliance’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact. The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies, with an average age under seven years. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed its first A330-900’s to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2028. In November 2023, the airline led a consortium to deliver the world’s first flight across the Atlantic on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin Atlantic is committed to radical collaboration across the energy chain to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.
For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com Opens in new tab or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic.
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS)
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) is a digital transformation and technology partner of choice for industry-leading organizations worldwide. Since its inception in 1968, TCS has upheld the highest standards of innovation, engineering excellence and customer service.
Rooted in the heritage of the Tata Group, TCS is focused on creating long term value for its clients, its investors, its employees, and the community at large. With a highly skilled workforce of 607,979 consultants in 55 countries and 202 service delivery centers across the world, the company has been recognized as a top employer in six continents. With the ability to rapidly apply and scale new technologies, the company has built long term partnerships with its clients – helping them emerge as perpetually adaptive enterprises. Many of these relationships have endured into decades and navigated every technology cycle, from mainframes in the 1970s to Artificial Intelligence today.
TCS sponsors 14 of the world’s most prestigious marathons and endurance events, including the TCS New York City Marathon, TCS London Marathon and TCS Sydney Marathon with a focus on promoting health, sustainability, and community empowerment.
TCS generated consolidated revenues of over US $30 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. For more information, visit www.tcs.com
Business Story
Introducing the Apple Games app: A personalized home for games and playing with friends

Apple Games is a new all-in-one destination for games and playing with friends on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled Apple Games, an all-new destination designed to help players jump back into the games they love, find their next favorite, and have more fun with friends, turning even single-player games into shared experiences. The Games app makes it easier than ever for players to enjoy all their games in one convenient place and see what’s happening across their games, including major events and updates, so they never miss a moment.

Here’s what developers are saying:
“As my friends have grown up and moved away, I miss hearing about what they’re playing on their phones, and the Games app is a great way I can get a window back into their gaming worlds. The app also helps us seamlessly integrate and extend all of the social community features we’ve built into Puzzmo directly into the center of our player’s existing daily play routine.” — Zach Gage, indie developer and cofounder of Puzzmo
“The introduction of challenges and a new social layer marks a major leap forward for both developers and players. While creators stay focused on gameplay, these features bring people together in just a few taps, effortlessly deepening player engagement — especially important for games like Thronefall.” — Glib Platonov, cofounder of Doghowl Games
“The Games app is going to be a game changer for playing on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The app makes it easy for us to create moments just for groups of friends. The new challenges feature works great and feels natural for our games on Apple Arcade, including our latest release, WHAT THE CLASH?, and we’ve been having a lot of fun with it!” — Tim Garbos, creative director and cofounder of Triband.
The Games app is also the best way to experience Apple Arcade, Apple’s subscription service with more than 200 award-winning and highly rated games for the whole family, including Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Sneaky Sasquatch, and Mini Motorways.

Launch Favorite Games, Discover New Ones
The Games app allows players to see all the games they have ever downloaded from the App Store for their iPhone and iPad, and brings together all the games they have on Mac.

They can connect any compatible game controller for easy navigation around the app and to launch right into their games. Players can explore personalized recommendations based on games they’ve played, games their friends are playing, and games supporting Game Center features, that can be played together.

Editorial collections also appear in the app to help players find new games, including some of the most exciting games on the App Store, such as Balatro, Crashlands 2, and DREDGE. If they are an Apple Arcade subscriber, players will see curated collections of the best games included in the catalog that help them get the most out of their subscription.

Play Together
Players now have all their Game Center friends and groups they’ve played with in one place, so they can easily enjoy their games together. They can see their shared gaming history, compare achievements, and send friends invite links and party codes using any messaging app, bringing them right into a competition or multiplayer match.

The Games app introduces challenges, a new way to compete with friends in score-based showdowns. Developers that have Game Center leaderboards for their games can add these unique challenges that are catered to a smaller group of friends. Challenges can turn single-player games into shared experiences with friends, giving them even more ways to rally a group, crown a winner, and have a rematch.
- A Play Together challenge displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.
- The leaderboard after a challenge between friends in the Apple Games app displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.


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Players can invite friends to challenges by selecting their friends or contacts. Whether competing to see who can survive the most waves of enemies in Thronefall, or who can rack up the highest score in each week’s featured course in Skate City: New York, challenges unlock a whole new level of friendly competition.
Stay Up to Date with In-Game Events
The Games app introduces new features to help developers keep their players in the know about the latest game updates and can’t-miss events. Game pages in the app come to life, highlighting the latest activity for that specific game. Players can see what’s most relevant to them and the games they’re actively playing, front and center, like updates, live events, and timely activity from their friends.
Availability
The Games app is available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. The Games app will be released with the launch of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26 this fall as a free software update. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.
Business Story
Mahindra EPC enables savings of 262 Crore Litres of Water and 8.4 MU of Energy in FY25

Aims to create a positive impact based on water and power management systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation and other AgTech solutions Part of the Mahindra Group’s commitment to create a positive impact on society and the environment
Mahindra EPC Irrigation Limited, a pioneer in micro irrigation in India, has enabled savings of an estimated 262 crore litres of water and 8.4 MU (million units) of energy in FY’25. With a commitment to land restoration and drought resilience, Mahindra EPC achieved this feat through its customized micro irrigation systems, community irrigation and agricultural water management projects.
This achievement is an outcome of Mahindra EPC’s broader effort to “Do More with Less” and “Rejuvenating Nature”. This is a key pillar of Mahindra Group’s Sustainability Mandate and aims to safeguard natural resources and play a meaningful role in climate action.
Commenting on the achievement, Ramesh Ramachandran, Managing Director – Mahindra EPC Irrigation Ltd., “Putting farmers first, at Mahindra EPC we aim to drive widespread adoption of micro irrigation. With this milestone we not only enabled significant water savings, but also energy savings, all while continuing to make Indian farming more resilient. Underlining our dedication to environmental stewardship and farmer prosperity, this milestone aligns with the government’s goal of ‘Per Drop, More Crop’, as well as that of the Mahindra Group’s Sustainability Roadmap.”
Mahindra EPC’s innovation in irrigation technologies is part of a broader initiative to address critical issues such as land degradation and drought. By providing farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge for effective water management, Mahindra EPC plays a vital role in boosting agricultural productivity while preserving essential natural resources.
The company provides customized end-to-end water management solutions to individual farmers and communities and supports farmers with modern scientific solutions, through automation, alternative techniques and community related initiatives.
To deliver on various solutions Mahindra EPC has a strong network of over 1,000 channel partners which is supported by its branch offices spread across India. The company is also known for its quality services related to planning, design, installation and agronomy, and it also enables delivery of these services to farmers digitally.
About Mahindra
Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate. The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.
Analysis
Apple’s Indian Experiment: Can the iPhone Spark a Nation’s Innovation Renaissance

As Apple deepens its footprint in India, a bigger question emerges—can India move from assembling iconic devices to inventing the next wave of global tech?
By The Cover Story World Global Desk
June 15, 2025
A Factory That Hums with More Than Assembly Lines
It started as a strategic shift. Seeking diversification beyond China, Apple began ramping up iPhone production in India. Now, almost one in five iPhones worldwide is assembled on Indian soil. But this is no longer just a manufacturing story—it’s a turning point in India’s economic and technological narrative.
Apple isn’t just assembling devices in India. It’s building an ecosystem.
Behind every polished phone lies a rising army of local engineers, developers, logistics professionals, and component suppliers. The question now is not whether India can build. It’s whether India can innovate—and whether Apple will be the unlikely spark that ignites that transformation.
Apple’s Ecosystem Effect: More Than Just Jobs
Apple has always been more than a manufacturer—it’s a system-builder. And in India, that system is starting to bear fruit. From industrial training centers to small and mid-sized suppliers learning to meet Cupertino’s famously exacting standards, Apple is indirectly catalyzing a wave of capability upgrades across the board.
When a $3 trillion brand arrives, it doesn’t just bring dollars. It brings discipline, design principles, and the pressure to think bigger.
And India is responding.

Can the iPhone Spark a Nation’s Innovation Renaissance
The Rise of a New Tech Ambition
The Apple effect has galvanized other tech giants, startups, and policymakers to imagine a different future: not just assembling the world’s products, but inventing them. As Apple scales its operations—from assembly lines to developer academies and local app ecosystems—India’s own confidence in design-led innovation is rising.
Indian engineers who once supported backend systems are now contributing to core features, AI tools, and user experience design. The transfer of knowledge is slow, but real.
It’s not far-fetched to imagine a day when an iPhone feature is not only made in India—but imagined here.
From Digital Infrastructure to Digital Ingenuity
Apple’s expansion coincides with India’s bold digital leap. With hundreds of millions now plugged into mobile internet and a vibrant digital payment ecosystem, the conditions are ripe for innovation. The foundations—data access, payment rails, consumer appetite—are robust.
The challenge? Turning those digital roads into runways for takeoff.
Apple has shown that world-class products can be built in India. The next step is world-class ideas.
The R&D Gap: Still a Hurdle to Cross
Despite the momentum, India still trails global peers in research and development investment. While Apple contributes significantly to local employment and technology transfer, building an innovation economy will require bolder steps—deep-tech investments, stronger university-industry ties, and a regulatory environment that rewards invention.
What’s needed is a culture of experimentation—of failing forward. Apple’s presence helps, but the movement must be broader and deeper.
The Bigger Picture: Why Apple’s Bet Matters
Apple’s India story is about more than logistics or cost. It’s a vote of confidence in India’s ability to move up the value chain—from sweat to smarts.
If India succeeds, it won’t just be a nation where iPhones are made. It’ll be a place where ideas that power future generations of iPhones—and much more—are born.
In Apple’s glass and steel manufacturing floors, India sees its own reflection. Not just as a supplier, but as a creator.
And in that mirror lies the future.
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