When will the legacy fleet receive its just compensation, and what obstacles are standing in the way, as the Tatas mark the anniversary of their acquisition of Air India? A number of viral reels, videos, and posts that voiced concerns regarding the quality of Air India’s aircraft have appeared on social media in recent days. A recent incident on one of Air India’s B777s highlighted complaints regarding the overall state of amenities and seat comfort. The passenger in question paid Rs4.5 lakh for the flight from Canada to Delhi.
Even a cursory glance at social media reveals a plethora of complaints, particularly in the economy class. These complaints contain issues like hard products, damaged seats, malfunctioning remote controls, and IFE screens issues with untidy customer service. When will the inherited fleet receive its just compensation, and what obstacles are standing in the way as the Tatas near the anniversary of their acquisition of Air India? Upon Air India control, the Tata group open up that several of its aircraft were grounded due to poor condition, which was caused by a shortage of funds.
It then increased the frequency of those trips and added new links, such as that to Melbourne from Mumbai. Due to years of inadequate maintenance and supply chain problems, the plane’s IFE and seats are outdated and not in the best condition. The Tatas have collaborated with their plane’s IFE, and the seats are outdated and not in the best condition. The Tatas have collaborated with their group companies to even replace traditional parts that are no longer available because of supply chain problems, supplier closures, or the main seat being out of service. 3D-printed materials have taken the place of these parts.
The renovations are expected to start in the middle of 2024. New in-flight entertainment systems, in-flight Wi-Fi internet connectivity, and brand-new seats will all be installed in each cabin. It is anticipated that the exercise will conclude by the end of 2025, meaning that more than two aircraft will begin to be delivered and refurbished in the latter part of this year. The airline projects that 33% of its widebody fleet will be upgraded by March 2024.
While hard product improvement may have its limits, if Air India wants to become a top airline, then its cleanliness problems cannot be forgiven. One wonders if this might result in many seats being out of service and if the route’s suitability for the deployment of such aircraft is called into question. The argument that passengers are also to blame for unclean cabins and aircraft is frequently made. While this is true, passengers do not change overnight, so the airline must have a system in place to guarantee cleaner aircraft.
