Ailing Air India:

March 05/2014: The Siamese cat got out of the bag when Air India gave marching orders to 10 airhostesses who reported late for work this week and delayed their respective flight departures. If anything, this explained more about the hopelessness into which the once-respected national flag carrier has sunk in recent years. Pity the 'Maharaja' who was once the pride of the nation. It can no longer be blamed on competition. The carrier is dying a slow but sure death primarily because of the attitude problems of the staff. 

The airline is into serious financial difficulties and its flights rarely take off or arrive on schedule. But what was not known to the general public was that 'late reporting to duty' by the cabin crew is among the major reasons that delay the flights. On the other hand, passengers have to report at counter for check-in an hour before domestic flights and at least three hours prior to international flights.

At the receiving end of such crass indiscipline and undercutting of the airline's image and financial comfort are none other than the passengers - the very people who not only pay heavy fares but whose taxes to the exchequer are feeding such irresponsible indulgences.

The 10 airhostesses who have been sacked are by no means presenting isolated cases. Rather, according to the airline's own admission, there is an "unusual rise in instances" of late reporting for work by cabin crew and resultant delays in take offs. While merrily blaming the Air India cabin crew, it must be noted that they are probably one of the best behaved lot amongst the choice available in other airlines both in India and abroad. Passengers may seem to be fascinated by younger western style dressed airhostesses in airlines such as Indigo but ticket price apart, such airline cabin crew and ground staff behavior is mostly abhorrent. A complaint could be made that travelers connected with government somehow manage to get a better treatment in Air India. However, an economy class frequent passenger would prefer Air India for its spacious seating and free meals. Other economic airlines however go packed even though their seats are crammed and a passenger has to pay high tariff for a bottle of drinking water or a cup of tea. Their attraction lies primarily in sticking to schedule.

Many think that Air India is very far removed from the global airline culture. Although this was the truth in earlier days when no competition existed in India, the same cannot be said after the ‘open sky’ policy came into force. It may be said that international and national carriers elsewhere field young, pretty, intelligent and smart airline crew. Although visually they may be attractive, most of them behave rude and cold. Frequent fliers would vouch that there exists a very evident trace of racism in western airlines which serve Asian countries, especially India. It may also not be forgotten that most Indian passengers also behave indecently once drunk on free alcohol served on international flights.

Many fliers complain that the old and jaded look of Air India's cabin crew, most of them past their prime, tired of life, and appearing with wrinkled faces is not pleasing. Frequent fliers, however, are aware that short skirts and low necklines do not assure a friendly smiling service. In this background, it is easy to damn Air India and its mostly slovenly staff. 

Air India and Indian Airlines, which had duopoly in the Indian context for four decades, connected cities across the nation and the world. Air India touched down on all the continents, and made profits till the 90s. Today’s fall in standards has much, if not all, to do with its leadership being in the hands of JRD Tata at that time. The man always focused on his image buildup rather than creating a healthy work culture in one of the most prestigious public sector undertakings of the nation.

The open sky policy brought in private players galore. From NEPC of yesteryears to Spice, GoAir, Indigo and Jet of today, the sky seems full. Quite a few of them lost out, but some survived the odds and are flying high. Sadly, one airline that died in its own opulence, Kingfisher, was probably outstanding in its service and friendliness at a global level. Jet Airways today stands out from the mess created by the likes of IndiGo.

Curiously, when the Indian aviation sector is still ailing, foreign carriers like Emirates are seeking hefty increases in their seat capacities for their flights into and out of India. More and more people are flying, and more money is entering the sector, but Air India is evidently going down. The fall of Air India will not be attributed to opulence or excessive care. Unionism and indifference towards national good seems to be of least concern for the people who are manning the national carrier. Unfortunately, all Indian establishments collapse because the people in it somehow seem to hate its very existence.