Air India’s Delhi-Vancouver flight, Al 185, faced a significant delay of nearly 22 hours, marking the third instance in just over a week where the airline’s ultra-long-haul flights experienced extended delays due to various issues.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 5.30 am on Saturday, June 1, was rescheduled to Sunday, June 2, at 3:15 am due to a “technical issue” and crew reaching their mandatory Flight Duty Time Limitations.
This delay comes on the heels of two similar incidents involving Air India’s Delhi-San Francisco and Mumbai-San Francisco flights in the past week.
Previous Delays and DGCA Action
On May 30, the Delhi-San Francisco flight, Al 183, was initially set to depart at around 3:30 pm on Thursday but eventually took off at 9:55 pm on Friday, after a delay of over 30 hours. A similar incident occurred on May 24 on the Mumbai-San Francisco flight, Al 179, where passengers had to wait inside the aircraft for over five hours before it was rescheduled for the following day.
In response to these delays, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, issued a show-cause notice to Air India on Friday, citing the delays of Al 183 from Delhi to San Francisco on May 30 and Al 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco on May 24. The notice also mentioned Air India’s failure to adequately care for passengers during these delays.
Passenger Discomfort and Compensation
The extended delays have caused significant discomfort for passengers. On the Delhi-San Francisco flight, some passengers fainted inside the aircraft due to a malfunctioning air-conditioning system. Journalist Shweta Punj took to social media to express her concern, stating, “If there is a privatization story that has failed it is @airindia @DGCAIndia Al 183 flight has been delayed for over 8 hours, passengers were made to board the plane without air conditioning and then deplaned after some people fainted inside the flight. This is inhuman! @JM_Scindia”.
In response to the San Fransico flight delay, Air India apologized and offered each passenger a travel voucher worth USD 35 as compensation. However, the airline did not issue any official statement regarding the delay of the Delhi-Vancouver flight.
Air India’s Privatization and Challenges
Air India, which was previously owned by the Indian government, was privatized and handed over to the Tata Group
in January 2022. The recent spate of delays and disregard for passenger comfort has raised questions about the airline’s ability to handle the challenges of privatization effectively.
The DGCA’s show-cause notice and the public outcry over the delays highlight the need for Air India to address these issues promptly and prioritize passenger safety and comfort. The airline must also ensure that its crew is adequately rested and able to perform their duties without compromising on safety or passenger experience.
Conclusion
The repeated delays experienced by Air India’s ultra-long-haul flights, particularly the Delhi-Vancouver and Delhi-San Francisco routes, have raised serious concerns about the airline’s operational efficiency and its ability to provide a reliable and comfortable travel experience for its passengers.
As Air India navigates the challenges of privatization, it must prioritize addressing these issues and implementing measures to prevent such delays from occurring in the future. The airline’s response to the DGCA’s show-cause notice and its efforts to improve passenger care will be closely watched by the aviation industry and the traveling public alike.