Air India is facing a barrage of complaints from passengers, mainly centered around the Economy class. Numerous issues have been reported, including broken seats, malfunctioning remote controls, and in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens, along with problems related to cleanliness and customer service. Viral content on social media has further fueled the criticism, with recent instances highlighting dissatisfied customers who paid a significant amount for their air travel experience.
What issue does Air India have?
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Notably, despite an increase in the number of passengers in the Economy class, there has been a significant decrease in those opting for the front cabin. This trend coincides with the introduction of Air India’s first A350 aircraft in India at the end of 2023 and preparations for domestic flights starting on January 22.
The Tatas, who recently took over Air India, discovered several grounded aircraft due to inadequate maintenance caused by a lack of funding. To address this, the Tata group invested money to bring the planes back into service.
Why are there more grievances against Air India?
However, the legacy fleet faces challenges with outdated IFE systems and seats, compounded by years of subpar maintenance and supply chain issues. Collaborating with group companies, the Tatas have resorted to 3D printed materials for unavailable traditional parts, but some IFE problems remain unresolved due to the magnitude of the issues.
In response to these challenges, Air India is set to undertake a comprehensive renovation of the interiors of its 43 widebody aircraft from the legacy fleet, costing an estimated US $400 million. This includes 16 B777s and 27 B787s.
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The renovation project is scheduled to commence in mid-2024 and aims to install new seats, update IFE systems, and provide Wi-Fi internet access in each cabin. The airline anticipates completing the entire refurbishment by the end of 2025, with the first batch of over two aircraft expected to be delivered in the latter part of 2024. By March 2024, Air India projects that 33% of its widebody fleet will undergo upgrades, encompassing A350s, B77Ls, and B77Ws from various sources.