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Challenges remain for Air India's aggressive expansion plan; many questions raised by the Ahmedabad accident
Air India: Passengers often share pictures of dirty seats, broken armrests, poor entertainment systems, and dirty cabins about Air India. At the same time, this accident has raised even bigger questions about the credibility. In such a situation, now Air India will have to buy new aircraft and maintain them better to maintain its existence. They should focus on proper maintenance, as Air India has had a volatile past.
Air India has aggressively expanded its international flight network in recent years, but this has also led to a consistent flow of passenger complaints. On social media, travelers frequently share images of dirty seats, broken armrests, inadequate entertainment systems, and unclean cabins. In this context, the recent crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad has raised even more questions.
Air India CEO Wilson stated, "this is a difficult day for all of us." He also mentioned that the investigation will take time. Air India encountered issues with its Dreamliner in 2013 due to battery problems. At that time, the state-owned airline had to ground its Dreamliner fleet for a period due to these battery issues. The airline had about six such aircraft in its possession then. Additionally, the airline received compensation from Boeing for these troubles.
Vibhuti Deora, a former legal expert with India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, commented that Air India needs to purchase new aircraft and maintain them better to survive. He emphasized the need for proper maintenance, noting that Air India has a troubled history. During government ownership, a Boeing 737 aircraft from Dubai overshot the runway at a domestic airport in 2010 and crashed into a ditch, resulting in the deaths of 158 people. In 2020, a plane from its low-cost unit, Air India Express, skidded off a runway in India, claiming the lives of 21 individuals.
