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Travel Weekly
26 minutes ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Air India's deadly crash could set back its ambitious growth plans
NEW DELHI, India -- Just 10 days before Air India Flight 171 crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, killing 270 people aboard and on the ground, company CEO Campbell Wilson held a briefing with the global aviation media, where he laid out the airline's grand ambitions. "Anywhere we point an aircraft, I think we can probably fill it," Wilson stated confidently that morning here, where the IATA Annual General Meeting was taking place. Indeed, in the three-and-a-half years since India's Tata Group acquired the long-neglected carrier from the Indian government, it has been investing aggressively. Its goal: to reinvent Air India as a service-oriented airline, ready to take advantage of the economic dynamics that industry insiders widely believe make India's aviation sector primed for a wave of growth. Since being acquired by Tata, Air India has ordered 570 aircraft, including nearly 520 that have yet to be delivered. The airline has also completed mergers with Vistara and AirAsia India, both of which were already owned by Tata. Buoyed by the Vistara merger, Air India has more than doubled its international weekly frequencies since going private and has sharply boosted domestic flying. But now, as accident investigators search for the cause of the Flight 171 crash, the airline faces a new and different challenge. "No airline CEO wants to face a challenge of this magnitude," said John Strickland, director of London-based JLS Consulting. "But when you are trying to turn around an airline from decades of state ownership and revolving-door management and political interference, it makes it even harder." Even before Flight 171 went down, the Air India transformation was a daunting project. Underinvestment during its long period of state ownership had left the carrier with antiquated cabin interiors and obsolete IT systems, Wilson said. There had been no recruitment of nonflying staff for 20 years. When Tata bought the airline, one-third of the fleet was grounded and being cannibalized for parts. The airline has since put all but one of those 30 grounded planes back in the sky, spent $200 million to replace 43 IT systems and recruited 6,000 new employees. Buoyed by the addition of Vistara's modern fleet and by deliveries of new aircraft, including six Airbus A350 planes, 50% of Air India's fleet now offers either new or upgraded interiors, Wilson said. Still, there is much work to do. The airline has plans to retrofit 40 widebody aircraft by 2028, and in the meantime it is doing a lighter freshening of 13 Boeing 777s to tide it over while it awaits seat replacement availability. Operationally, Air India is still a laggard. In May, the carrier was on time 71% of the time, placing it in the bottom 15% of global carriers, according to OAG. India aviation ministry records show that for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, Air India was on time just 68% of the time, according to the New Delhi-based magazine BW Businessworld. The airline also continued to suffer net losses in 2024-25 fiscal year, though it did record an operating profit as turnaround efforts progressed, according to Indian media sources. Indian macroeconomics have been behind the Tata Group's investment plans. IndiaNote is set to surpass Japan as the world's fourth-largest economy. And through 2050, growth will average 5.4% annually, according to a forecast by the London-based consultancy the Economist Intelligence Unit. Meanwhile, even though India is the world's biggest country by population, Indian airlines are operating just 69 widebody aircraft, according to Bloomberg Intelligence fleet data -- a figure that is lower than the widebody fleet of Singapore Airlines alone. Lacking the capacity to meet demand, India has largely ceded international air service to foreign operators, especially the Gulf carriers. Indian airlines have just 21% of Indian international market share, Wilson said. Also, while India does have the third-largest domestic airline industry in the world, it's still just one-seventh the size of similarly populous China's, IATA figures show. "If the Indian traveler starts traveling at the same rate as the Chinese travelers, it's going to be enormous," Wilson said at the IATA conference. But, for now, growth ambitions will take a back seat at Air India as it deals with the Flight 171 tragedy. On June 16, the airline's chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, told employees at a company town hall that the tragedy should serve as a catalyst to build a safer airline, various media reported. Investigators could take months to determine the cause of the crash. If mechanical or technical issues with the flight's Boeing 787 Dreamliner or General Electric GENx engine are ultimately found responsible, Air India's reputational damage would be less dramatic than if the airline's own safety protocols failed. But no matter what, Strickland said, the accident dents the carrier's progress. "It's not like the airline was top of the heap in terms of reputation and loyalty from customers," he said. "Whatever the cause, it means that management will have to redouble their focus to prove that they can deliver a safe, reliable and high-quality product."
The Independent
an hour ago
- Business
- The Independent
Air India flight cuts: How many have been axed and what are your rights?
In the wake of the deadly crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on 12 June, the Indian national airline has cancelled dozens of flights over the next 25 days – with a warning that cuts could continue beyond that. At least 275 people died when the Boeing 737 Max came down moments after take-off on a flight to London Gatwick. Air India has axed 15 per cent of its international wide-bodied schedule between 21 June and 15 July. Links from Amritsar and Goa to London Gatwick have been suspended, while there will be fewer flights on routes to and from London Heathrow and Birmingham airports. These are the key questions and answers. What's the background? Air India 's chief executive, Campbell Wilson, told passengers: 'Arising from this tragedy, and as directed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), we have been conducting thorough safety inspections on our 33 Boeing 787 aircraft. So far, inspections have been completed on 26 and these have been cleared for service. The remaining aircraft are currently in planned maintenance and will have these additional checks done before being released into service. 'Following the review, the DGCA has confirmed that our Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance processes fully meet safety standards. 'Regrettably, the time required to perform these enhanced safety checks, along with the application of extra caution, external factors like airspace closures in Iran and the Middle East as well as night-time restrictions at some international airports, along with normal airline technical issues, has led to a higher-than-usual number of cancellations on our long-haul network in the past few days. We know these disruptions have been frustrating, and we're truly sorry for the inconvenience.' What is being done? The Air India boss said: 'As a confidence-building measure, we have elected to continue enhanced pre-flight safety checks on our Boeing 787 fleet and, as an added measure, our Boeing 777 aircraft, for the time being. 'Given the time these additional checks will consume and the potential impact on schedules, we have decided to reduce our international wide-body flights by around 15 per cent.' He said the cancellations would continue "through to at least mid-July', suggesting there could be further disruption. 'This will also allow us to have more backup aircraft ready to handle any unexpected issues,' he said. Which UK routes are affected? Cancelled until 15 July (or later): Amritsar and Goa to London Gatwick, due to be flown three times a week on each route. Reduced frequencies Delhi- London Heathrow: Two of the 24 flights each week cancelled. Bengaluru-London Heathrow: One of the daily flights cancelled. Amritsar-Birmingham and Delhi-Birmingham: One of the three-a-week flights cancelled on each route. Any impact further afield? Yes. Connecting flights from Delhi to Melbourne, Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo have had frequencies reduced, making onward connections more difficult. What does the airline say? 'Air India apologises to the passengers affected by these curtailments, and is proactively contacting affected passengers to offer a choice of: 'Re-accommodation on alternative flights "Complimentary rescheduling 'Full refunds' It appears that the first two options are basically the same. There is no clarity about whether alternative flights will be on Air India only, or on other airlines. I have a booking for the summer. What are my rights? It depends on whether you are flying from the UK (or elsewhere in Europe) to India, or in the opposite direction. Starting in Europe, you are covered by air passengers' rights rules that insist in the event of a cancellation, you should be offered the best available alternative – including on another airline if that is the optimum way to get you to your destination on schedule. You should also be provided with meals and, if necessary, accommodation until you reach your destination. Some passengers may request compensation of £520 if the cancellation is notified less than two weeks in advance and significantly disrupts their travel plans. Flying from outside the UK/EU on a non-European airline like Air India, you have no such rights. You may be restricted to Air India, or fellow airline members of the Star Alliance. You are not automatically entitled to meals and accommodation. Anything more? Airline boss Campbell Wilson says: 'This is a challenging time for all of us. We are grateful for your support, and your understanding that safety must always come first. Your trust means everything to us, so if you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us through our customer support channels.'
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
WATCH — Is seat 11A really the safest seat on an airplane?
Flying is still the safest mode of transport, experts say CONTENT WARNING: This story contains information about people dying in plane crashes. Consider reading it with a trusted adult. It's common to have an emotional reaction to the news. Is there really a 'safest seat' on an airplane? On June 12, an Air India flight crashed minutes after takeoff in the Indian city of Ahmedabad. Several people on the ground died, along with 241 on board. One passenger survived. Why kids should still feel safe to fly despite deadly D.C. plane crash Vishwashkumar Ramesh was that sole survivor, and was sitting in seat 11A. He jumped through a nearby emergency exit after the crash. So why has seat 11A gone viral online? Turns out Thai singer and actor James Ruangsak Loychusak — who was one of the survivors of a deadly 1998 Thai Airways plane crash — sat in the same seat. 'That was an uncanny coincidence,' he told India's The Telegraph Online after the crash. 'The kind that gives you goosebumps.' CBC Kids News was not able to confirm that he was actually sitting in seat 11A, but it turns out it may not really matter. Check the video below to find out more about seat 11A from CBC Kids News contributor Ainara Alleyne. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Why your seat choice doesn't really matter Aviation experts say plane crashes are random, and any seat can improve your survivability depending on the unique aspects of a crash. These include things like the way the aircraft breaks apart, the type of impact, where someone is sitting and timing, for example. All about airplanes: Aviation experts answer kids' questions about flying 'Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location,' Mitchell Fox, a director at Flight Safety Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit, told Reuters. Two men in plane crashes more than 20 years apart both survived sitting in seat 11A. On the left is the recent crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft in Ahmedabad, India. The image on the right depicts the 1998 crash of a Thai Airways Airbus A310 in Surat Thani, Thailand. Image credit: (Adnan Abidi/Reuters, and Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images) Also, seat 11A isn't in the same spot on every airplane and may not always be as close to an emergency exit. That being said, experts say sitting near an emergency exit can improve chances of evacuation in less severe crashes. In any case, don't let all this talk of crashes scare you — flying is still by far the safest mode of transportation. You're more likely to be struck by lightning than end up in a plane crash, experts say. Have more questions? Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the 'send us feedback' link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ With files from Natalie Stechyson/CBC News
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The Independent
5 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Simon Calder answers your air travel safety questions – from Boeing worries to the truth about budget airlines
The crash of Air India flight AI171 has shaken confidence in air travel and triggered an outpouring of questions during a recent Independent Ask Me Anything. It was the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an aircraft that had safely carried over a billion passengers since entering service in 2011. But on 12 June, just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad, the flight bound for London Gatwick crashed. Only one of the 242 people on board survived. Dozens more died on the ground. A preliminary report is expected in about three months. If there is evidence of a previously unknown problem that could jeopardise the safety of other aircraft, investigators will announce their initial conclusions as soon as possible. As always in the early stages of an investigation, aviation safety experts will consider a wide spectrum of possible contributory factors – from mechanical issues to the behaviour of the pilots, who, until and unless anything is known to the contrary, are presumed blameless. Lessons on how to improve safety in future will be shared with the aviation community. That is how aviation safety works: it is built on lessons learnt from past tragedies. A lot of attention has focused on seat 11A, where the sole survivor of the Air India tragedy was located. But there is no such thing as a guaranteed safest seat on an aircraft. As long-in-the-tooth safety experts tend to say: 'Tell me what sort of accident you're planning to have, and I'll tell you the safest place to sit.' As I told readers during the Q&A, the most useful contribution every passenger can make is to pay full attention to the safety briefing. Make it 'muscle memory' to know where your nearest exit is – and under no circumstances stop to collect your cabin baggage. Several readers asked whether flying is still safe, whether budget airlines cut corners, and if Boeing can still be trusted. Others asked about the world's riskiest airports and how to stay calm in the face of fear. These are important questions – and the answers matter more now than ever. Below are selected highlights from the Ask Me Anything, where I responded as directly and clearly as possible. For those who want to go deeper, you can sign up to my weekly AMA email, exclusively for Independent Premium subscribers. Sophieeeeeee A: Airports are extremely variable in the degree of challenge they present to pilots. Some in Europe and worldwide require special training. These include Innsbruck in Austria, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Funchal in Madeira. But that doesn't make them more dangerous: as with so much in aviation, providing extra training is part of designing out risk. Tragically, there is one part of the world where the terrain is difficult and where accidents happen far too frequently: Nepal. However, while the airports are extremely challenging, procedures and training should mitigate the risk. Q: How do you stay calm and realistic about flight safety? SimonL A: Look at the numbers. On that tragic Thursday, 12 June, more than 270 people lost their lives aboard Air India flight 171 and on the ground. Yet the same day, far more road users in India died in accidents. You are far safer on an aircraft than on the roads – in any part of the world – and in Europe, crashes are extraordinarily rare. Q: If I ever feel something's off during a flight, is there anything I can actually do? Jase A: Aviation has many cases in which passengers have alerted crew to a dangerous situation, and you should certainly speak up if you consider the safety of the aircraft is jeopardised. Q: Should we worry about flying on a Boeing? Colette Austin A: Boeing has made thousands of superb aircraft. I would not hesitate to fly on one of its planes. The world's safest airline (in terms of passengers carried without a fatal accident), Ryanair, flies only Boeing 737 aircraft. But in the past decade, its safety culture has been called into question. Shocking shortcomings at the plane manufacturer were exposed in the aftermath of two fatal crashes of the Boeing 737 Max. The fatally flawed design led to the temporary grounding of the aircraft worldwide, and in 2024 another incident, in which a door plug burst open at 16,000 feet, triggered further investigations. This is the first fatal accident involving the 787. Soon after it entered service in 2011, concerns over the fire risk from lithium batteries led to a temporary grounding. More than 1,000 Boeing 787 aircraft are in service with dozens of international airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, both of which have exemplary safety records. Q: Are budget airlines just as safe as the big names? Sophieeeeeee A: 'If you think safety is expensive, try having an accident' – that is the standard response to such questions, and I think it is fair. The second-safest airline worldwide, after Ryanair, is easyJet. Both are focused on keeping costs down. But safety is paramount. Q: Are there parts of the world where you'd personally think twice about flying, because of safety standards? SammyW Nepal figures disproportionately heavily in the accident statistics. But even there, you are safer in the sky than on the roads. In Iran and Russia, international sanctions mean that aircraft are not being maintained to the appropriate levels. And small airlines with old aircraft – such as those in parts of Africa – do not inspire confidence, particularly during stormy weather in tropical The European Union has a useful list of airlines that are banned from EU airspace. They include Air Zimbabwe, numerous Afghan, Iranian and Iraqi aircraft, plus carriers based in Armenia, Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nepal, Sudan, Suriname and Tanzania. These questions and answers were part of an 'Ask Me Anything' hosted by Simon Calder at 1pm BST on Wednesday, 18 June. Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Air India crash: India to decide on overseas analysis of flight recorders
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to decide whether flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the Air India flight that crashed last Thursday will be sent overseas for decoding and least 270 people, most of them passengers, were killed when the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western media outlets reported that the black boxes are being sent abroad, but the ministry of civil aviation clarified that no final decision has been ministry said the AAIB will determine the location for analysis after a "due assessment of technical, safety, and security factors". Investigators have recovered both sets of Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) - the "black boxes" - from the Boeing 787 crash site. These combined units, which record flight data and cockpit audio, were found on 13 and 16 June. The aircraft model carries two such sets to aid in thorough recorders track with high precision the position of gear and flap levers, thrust settings, engine performance, fuel flow and even fire handle data in the plane's "black boxes" can be used to reconstruct the flight's final moments and determine the cause of the some media outlets reported that the recorders had been badly damaged in the fire that engulfed the plane after the crash, making it difficult to extract the data in India and that the government was planning to send the recorders to the Kishore Chinta, a former accident investigator with the AAIB, told the BBC one set of recorders could be also sent to the US "to compare the data downloaded in India with that provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)". He said although the new AAIB lab in Delhi was inaugurated in April, "it's unclear whether it is fully operational for EAFR data downloads".Meanwhile, Air India's chairman has said that one of the engines of the Air India plane that crashed last week was new, while the other was not due for servicing until an interview with Times Now news channel, N Chandrasekaran said that both engines of the aircraft had "clean" the airline said that inspections have been completed on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, all of which have been "cleared for service".India's aviation regulator had ordered additional safety checks on Air India's Boeing 787 fleet after the deadly crash as a "preventive measure".On Thursday, the airline announced that its flights will be reduced on 16 international routes and suspended on three overseas destinations between 21 June and 15 July."The reductions arise from the decision to voluntarily undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East," the airline said in a announcement came a day after the carrier said it would temporarily reduce flights operated with wide-body planes by 15%.
