When i was to fly to US this May by Air India,from Delhi to Chicago via Frankfurt, i was somewhat apprehensive.The last time i flew in Air India, was when i was a kid, and since then listeningto the not too good feedback, i avoided it at most times. But as the flight was booked by my company, i had no option but to go with it. And as the 14 hr flight took from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, i settled back in myseat ready to face whatever comes. But to tell the truth i was pleasantly surprised, the food quality was good and tasty. The flight attendants were supportive, and helpful enough. And it had the TV console in seat, with a real good collection of classic movies, both English and Hindi, that enabled me to pass the time, watching them. Even during the return journey, the experience was comfortable, and in fact, the response was prompt from the ground staff in Delhi, when i reported my check in luggage missing.
And so it made me sad to read thenews of Air India's financial mess, and how its deeply in red. Made me really sad, because unlike some other Government organizations, this was doing a decent job. Predictably, the LPG(Liberalization-Privatization-Globalization) champions and their supporters in the media were ready asking it to be sold off. Ignoring the fact, that over the years, many private airlines have been in a deep mess, and the quality of their service is no better either. On the other hand, the Government responded in theway, it knows only best, a bailout, with MP's raising pleas for"saving the national carrier". Actually if Air India needs to be saved, its from these MP's and political leaders, who for years have treated it like their own private airlines, using it for free trips at taxpayer's expense. For year's each and every political leader has treated Air India as their own personal family carrier, for ferryingthem and their family members on free trips. Every one knows the story of an esteemed ex Prime Minister of ours, who ferried his entire family at tax payer's expense, to foreign trips.
It is not just the free family trips, it was also the way, they interfered in the appointments, management of the airlines, pushing their cronies, their chamchas in, and worse bullying the authorities to induct hopelessly unqualified jokers as employees in key positions. Saving the national carrier my foot, these rogues have for years have exploited Air India badly, and now they are all of a sudden filled with a patriotic wish to "rescue our national carrier". Nothing to do with national pride, its more like saving their free trips, and free services. Which is how public sector enterprises have been always treated in India. When the MP's lament about"family silver being sold off", it is due to the fact, that they are losing the sole right to steal and use the "family silver".
What Air India does not need right now are bailouts? The only thing the bailout would dois give an opportunity for the jokers in Parliament and Assemblies to indulge inmore looting. What Air India needs is more autonomy, and in simple terms, it means thepolitical leaders need to keep their filthy hands off this. The DMRC( Delhi Metro Rail Corporation), was itself a government entity, but it was able to do well, due to Sreedharan insisting on a hands off approach. The problem is that even though Praful Patel, realizes this, he is helpless to do anything. There are capable people who can turn Air India around without resorting to US style hire and fire measures. These people need a totalautonomy, the last thing they need is for some political leader who has no clue about aviation, breathing down their neck, andtelling them what to do, whom to hire.
Another factor for Air India’s downfall, happens to be within itself, its own unit Air India Express. Air India’s intentions were good, it was set up to challenge the low cost airlines, and also make profits on the busy Gulf routes. However the success of Air India Express, would prove to be fatal for Air India. This is because during the 70’s, 80’s and a major part of the 90’s, the Gulf sector, was Air India’s cash cow. It made the maximum profits here, and to many passengers travelling to Gulf, this was the de facto choice. So losing it’s market share to Air India Express was a big blow to Air India.
Another issue happened to be the handling of aircraft leasing. After the merger of AI and Indian Airlines, aircraft were leased, right, left and center, with no proper strategy, no pricing, no planning. This resulted in ridiculous situations like keeping 5 Boeing 737 and another 5 Boeing 777 on the ground for 2 years without use, at a heavy loss. Or consider one more ludicrous situation, Air India developed a route to Los Angeles, and like any new route, it took time to achieve full occupancy. But then thanks to the muddle headedness that prevails in babudom, the route was shut down, just when it began to do well. Why? Because the lease on the aircraft in that route had expired.
Another issue happened to be the handling of aircraft leasing. After the merger of AI and Indian Airlines, aircraft were leased, right, left and center, with no proper strategy, no pricing, no planning. This resulted in ridiculous situations like keeping 5 Boeing 737 and another 5 Boeing 777 on the ground for 2 years without use, at a heavy loss. Or consider one more ludicrous situation, Air India developed a route to Los Angeles, and like any new route, it took time to achieve full occupancy. But then thanks to the muddle headedness that prevails in babudom, the route was shut down, just when it began to do well. Why? Because the lease on the aircraft in that route had expired.
What i have stated here is only the tip of the iceberg. If one were to really get into how political leaders, bureaucrats, officials over the years have over the years exploited Air India, indulged in whimsical decision taking, favored rival airlines just for political considerations, it would make up a huge story in itself. Its sad, that what could have been our flagship carrier is now being in such a deep mess, thanks to the meddling.
