India-based Airlines - Airlines of India Scorecard

So let's see what the score card says about the Airlines of India :confused::

1. Air India - There is so much debt that the combined income tax that all of us pay for the rest of our lives might not cover it.. The oil companies keep stopping the oil supply every day.. The only reason this airlines is floating is bcoz the government finds it convenient to interfere and pump in the taxpayers money.. otherwise the airlines would have gone done the drain LLOOOONNNGGGG time back.. There is only so much sentimental value that one can attach to having a national airlines.. :td:

2. Kingfisher - India's "first" (and only) five star airline !!!! Started with a bang and blitz that only VM can pull off.. and then he decided that it's time to expand.. one poor merger decision and a lot of false claims about a secret investor later, we have the owner begging the Indian government for help ( did u hear the latest- "all states should underwrite some seats on each flight” suggestion by his holiness Mr. VM)..:confused:

3. Jet Airways – The real full service airline of India (is my soft corner for JA showing thru..?? ;)).. Despite the acquiring of Sahara and the move to LCA model for the sake of business, Jet was one airlines that had managed to fly through the rough with panache.. or so it seemed.. with times, most flights became Jet Konnect (seriously, I am having difficulty remembering the last time I flew Jet Full service), and the stinginess with miles prompted a competition on our forum for a new name for their JP plan.. Things keep going downhill everyday, specially in the department called “Goodwill amongst passengers”..!! :mad:

4. Paramount Airways - Does anyone remember this airline..?????? Ok, let’s not go there.. :D

5. Spicejet – Hmm.. slightly trickier to define the score.. It’s bottomline is still in Red for sure.. services and staff behaviour is slightly questionable (my personal opinion).. Seems to be in the midst of controversy due the patronage of a particular Politician cum business man from the holy south.. But for a LCA, they are doing fine I suppose.. :confused:

6. Indigo – Now now.. it seems only Mr. Bhatia knows how to run an airlines, in the whole of India.. They are punctual, flights are clean, staff are co-operative.. I am sure we have had our own share of “experiences” with Indigo too, but all in all they are indeed a fine airlines to fly with.. ^^

So net result, we have one LCA that we can rely one, one LCA that is a decent back up.. and NO FULL SERVICE AIRLINE we would like to fly, given an option.. and that is just when we are talking domestic.. if we talk international, looks like most of us prefer flying an international airline indeed..!!!

Begs the question, is our government really that incompetent..!! They interfere with the airlines business far too much (my personal opinion again) and yet all we have all around are airlines that are biting the dust..

Any noble solutions..????? I have a few of my own, but let’s hear what we all have in mind..

So let's see what the score card says about the Airlines of India :confused::

1. Air India - There is so much debt that the combined income tax that all of us pay for the rest of our lives might not cover it.. The oil companies keep stopping the oil supply every day.. The only reason this airlines is floating is bcoz the government finds it convenient to interfere and pump in the taxpayers money.. otherwise the airlines would have gone done the drain LLOOOONNNGGGG time back.. There is only so much sentimental value that one can attach to having a national airlines.. :td:

Any noble solutions..????? I have a few of my own, but let’s hear what we all have in mind..

It would be so easy to turn Air India around, yet the management there seem to be unable to do it. What AI needs is to get some proper branding out there, and people might actually fly the airline. And there are so many ways that AI could get some real branding out there....

They could go the viral Youtube video way, taking some FAs/Pilots/Ground Crew and having them do Bollywood Dances at airports. Then put it up on Youtube and watch the magic. It would convince people, especially foreigners and NRIs, that Air India is the "real Indian experience" or whatever, and it would get them some positive media coverage.

Or, they could go the Patriotism way, trying to convince Indians that people who fly AI are patriotic. "A Great Airline Of A Great Country" or something, ya know? Shoot some advertisements with the Jana Gana Mana or Vande Mataram in the background, showing AI people doing noble things, and put it up on DD or something - I'm sure they could get some cheap ad slots...

AI has so many advantages as the national carrier - they can capture sentimental value so easily relative to competition. Yet they don't. And it sucks.

As for Air India's operation, it's been improving. My flights recently have all been on time (well, 20 minutes late due to people being unable to understand the concept of seat assignments). The DGCA's report said that while AI has shaky finances, their maintenance record is good. The staff of AI have been much more helpful than that of other airlines in my experience.

If they could 1) get themselves a brand, 2) continue to improve their operation, and 3) stop launching fare wars so that they can't make any money, then AI could be a great airline. Unfortunately, I don't have trust in the head office at DEL that they would be able to do it...

Perhaps they should fire the current guy and put me in as CMD ;);)

Nice thought PVDtoDEL.. I was reading an article recently from an ex CMD of AI who said categorically, that they can hire whoever the hell they want as CMD, but this airlines will not fly as long as the ministry doesn't stop interfering.. He was referring to the Pilot's strike and said that the Airlines would have managed to make the Pilot's tow their line, but at the last minute the ministry put pressure on them to back off and give the pilot's what they demanded.. Under such circumstances, no CMD can do run an airlines.. it was quite sad to read that..

Begs the question, is our government really that incompetent..!! They interfere with the airlines business far too much (my personal opinion again) and yet all we have all around are airlines that are biting the dust..

i couldn't have said it better myself....

Thanks for posting this - I think it's a great run down of the state of Indian aviation.

Some thoughts

1. Air India - There is so much debt that the combined income tax that all of us pay for the rest of our lives might not cover it.. The oil companies keep stopping the oil supply every day.. The only reason this airlines is floating is bcoz the government finds it convenient to interfere and pump in the taxpayers money.. otherwise the airlines would have gone done the drain LLOOOONNNGGGG time back.. There is only so much sentimental value that one can attach to having a national airlines.. :td:

Couldn't agree more. Although one thing I will say having flown 5 AI sectors in the last 4 months (4 domestic BIZ and one PVG-DEL-BOM in First). AIR INDIA international premium cabin on widebody fleet is miles ahead of IC parading as AI (regional 320/321 and domestic flights). Cabin crew are far more experienced and poised (may not be the most elegant but they do have a certain maternal / auntyji quality about them that can be very endearing when away from home - given my AI F experience and Rathin's run down of his India USA ULH flight, I am actually looking for an opportunity to try them out).


2. Kingfisher - India's "first" (and only) five star airline !!!! Started with a bang and blitz that only VM can pull off.. and then he decided that it's time to expand.. one poor merger decision and a lot of false claims about a secret investor later, we have the owner begging the Indian government for help ( did u hear the latest- "all states should underwrite some seats on each flight” suggestion by his holiness Mr. VM)..:confused:

Honestly, I have never been a fan. Even when everyone thought that IT would spell the end of Jet or give it a serious run for its money I believed otherwise. The only thing I like about IT is the Kingfisher first seat on a morning flight to DEL from MAA because it is the most comfortable domestic premium seat to get some sleep. I find their meal service tacky and often tasteless. I find their cabin crew incompetent. Their entertainment hardly ever works. They don't maintain their toilets and I find the whole "guest in my home" video cheesy (especially when 5 minutes later they tell you they've run out of food options for you seated in row 2).
The only reason I ever flew them was because of their entry into Oneworld (an alliance I have held top tier with since inception) and with the way things are with the recent hold up - I doubt they will actually join and am questioning their survival.



3. Jet Airways – The real full service airline of India (is my soft corner for JA showing thru..?? ;)).. Despite the acquiring of Sahara and the move to LCA model for the sake of business, Jet was one airlines that had managed to fly through the rough with panache.. or so it seemed.. with times, most flights became Jet Konnect (seriously, I am having difficulty remembering the last time I flew Jet Full service), and the stinginess with miles prompted a competition on our forum for a new name for their JP plan.. Things keep going downhill everyday, specially in the department called “Goodwill amongst passengers”..!! :mad:


9W is best described as schizophrenic. One minute they want to compete with SQ the next with Spicejet. However, one thing is fact - they know how to survive. It's an airline, run my airline pros and the airline business is in their DNA. When as a passenger I compare them to the airline that they were, and the airline that had me spending enough in 3 yrs to accumulate a million miles on them, buying full fare F tickets to NYC and back - and I compare that with the offering today - I get seriously riled up. But then when I fly IT or AI domestic and get on a 9W aircraft, I realize they are still the best that we have. They aren't a shadow of their former self - but they are pretty damn good still (JP excluded).
My solution to the JP problem given how much I fly is now to credit all shorthaul sectors to them (benefit, all fares count, web-check bonus etc etc) which is still enough for me to retain plat and any longhaul travel in premium cabin (the high mile earning travel) credit to LH and AA where applicable.


6. Indigo – Now now.. it seems only Mr. Bhatia knows how to run an airlines, in the whole of India.. They are punctual, flights are clean, staff are co-operative.. I am sure we have had our own share of “experiences” with Indigo too, but all in all they are indeed a fine airlines to fly with.. ^^


Honestly - I don't see what the fuss is about with 6E. Yes - they provide on time clean effecient experiences. Service on board and on ground is robotic. They definitely appeal to those that are looking for "transportation" services.
To me the only reason to pref indigo vs full service would be price. As an LCA they are great in terms of product I do agree, but most times I find them around the same price as 9W/IT/AI - sometimes even higher. So as a plat on 9W that can pre-reserve an exit row seat, sometimes get an upgrade on vouchers, use a lounge at major metros, get handled by CIP teams, have full flexibility on my ticket - I would only choose 6E if they offered more convenient timings and at a lower price (at least 15% cheaper). This is almost never the case.


So - net result for my scorecard is still 9W 1st place, IT/AI a distant second and 6E in third. I would avoid flying spice if I could.

3) stop launching fare wars so that they can't make any money

This. The fare wars are not only pulling down AI, but are sinking almost every other Indian carrier.

This. The fare wars are not only pulling down AI, but are sinking almost every other Indian carrier.

Fare wars are still just business.. but it's the unnecessary interference on the fare that gets to me.. during the Durga Puja and Diwali times, when some KF flight got cancelled, the government intervened and said airlines can't increase their fares..!!! ..... don't they understand demand and supply.. if the consumer is willing to pay for it, then why not..

Thanks for posting this - I think it's a great run down of the state of Indian aviation.

Some thoughts


Couldn't agree more...................................

So - net result for my scorecard is still 9W 1st place, IT/AI a distant second and 6E in third. I would avoid flying spice if I could.

Good to hear the thoughts from someone who is out and about on these planes to know what he is talking about.. how about some thoughts on what needs to be done to improve the condition of the industry..????

4. Paramount Airways - Does anyone remember this airline..?????? Ok, let’s not go there.. :D


On the wikipedia page, it still says that the airline aims to resume operations Dec 2010.
The website's still running, but if you try to check the schedule or search for a booking, then the browser search doesn't go through.

On the wikipedia page, it still says that the airline aims to resume operations Dec 2010.
The website's still running, but if you try to check the schedule or search for a booking, then the browser search doesn't go through.

Yeah.. it seems that they have got their license back and they are switching to the regular Airbus and Boeings..

Anyone thinks that the budget will help the airlines of India..???

We have to look at the forest and not individual trees. As business grows, increased complexity demands skills that are different from those needed for the business not just to prosper, but also for its survival. That transition has not taken place in two of the three majors. Airlines like Indigo, that are doing well should pay heed to what's happening to Jet and Kingfisher. AI, due to access to deep pockets is able to survive. AI, was already complex, so it's in a different league, although it's dire situation can be attributed to same issues that ails the other two airlines.
Ultimately all three airlines are hindered by inability or refusal of their management teams to make decisions free from interference by their masters, be they politicians or business icons. It would be more productive for each airline to focus on its house instead of trying to undermine others.