Dear Air India, Please be punctual & accountable.

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The Issue

 

 

Dear Friends,

We are writing this petition to formally request Air India to prioritize punctuality and provide a satisfactory travel experience that reflects the value for money we expect. Over the past several months, it has come to our attention that Air India flights between Delhi and Seoul have been frequently delayed, often by 1-3 hours. Such delays have caused numerous issues for passengers, particularly those with other flights to catch after landing. As a result, passengers are forced to rush, leading to unnecessary stress, missed flights, and zero compensation for circumstances beyond their control. It is crucial for our government agencies also to address these concerns, as any financial losses incurred by passengers due to flight delays should be appropriately compensated by the airline company. Furthermore, families with children and elderly individuals are significantly inconvenienced by these delays, and there have even been cases of medical emergencies, as indicated by a recent testimonial.

On Sunday, July 02, during my journey to Seoul, the scheduled departure of the flight was at 12:05 am. However, the flight was delayed by two hours, and it was announced at the airport that this delay was due to a shortage of flight crew members. Passengers were offered minimal compensation in the form of a water bottle valued at Rs 10 and a juice pouch worth Rs 10-15. To be more generous, let's consider the compensation to be worth Rs 30. Consequently, a delay of two hours was compensated with a mere Rs 30 at Delhi airport, which translates to Rs 15 per hour. This incident highlights the unfortunate reality of airlines in India and the value Air India places on passengers' time and the inconveniences caused. Delays are frequently announced when the boarding time is nearly over. Shouldn't Air India inform passengers well in advance by carefully assessing the situation? We strongly believe that such proactive communication is entirely feasible.

Upon boarding the aircraft, the captain announced that the delay was caused by technical issues with the aircraft. This raises serious concerns about the frequency of delays on Air India flights along this route. Are these delays consistently due to technical reasons? If so, how can Air India assure our safety? These concerns should be brought to the attention of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Aviation.

To address these concerns, I tweeted about the matter, specifically mentioning the honorable Aviation Minister, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia ji. In response, Air India stated that the delay was due to operational issues. It is disconcerting that three different explanations for the delay were provided at different points in time by Air India itself. Consequently, I requested proper documentation supporting the reasons for the delay, after which Air India stopped responding. Our concern is simple: do passengers, who pay several hundred dollars for their flights, have the right to know the genuine reasons behind the delay? Shouldn't there be accountability, or are we left at the mercy of these airlines, potentially causing inconvenience, financial losses, and other hardships, without providing adequate explanations?

While we appreciate the generous luggage allowance of 46 kgs, which serves as a unique selling point (USP) for Air India and a significant reason why passengers choose this airline over others, we have encountered other issues. These include seats that cannot be reclined, malfunctioning screens, broken window screen buttons, and the unavailability of non-vegetarian meals, among others. If these facilities are considered optional, Air India should clearly state this in their ticketing policies. Passengers need to be informed that these amenities are not guaranteed and are dependent on the luck of the passengers depending on the seats assigned to them.

Our petition simply seeks accountability, professionalism, and punctuality from Air India. At times, it feels as though Air India was more reliable when it was a government-owned airline. We kindly request Tata to take note of these issues and make every effort to represent themselves and the image of India in the best possible manner abroad. We urge you to sign this petition in large numbers, as it will serve as a catalyst for positive change and exert pressure on both the airline and the government to address these concerns promptly.

Thank you for your support.

The link to the tweet can be found here. The ongoing issue with make my trip will be dealt with in another manner.

https://twitter.com/kislay_44/status/1675216048361189376?s=46

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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