Mar 22, 2002 01:21 PM
6442 Views
(Updated Mar 22, 2002 01:21 PM)
Let's face it, we keep cribbing about the lousy and shabby treatment from PSUs endlessly, but what do the competitors offer? Try flying Syrian Arab Airlines, Air Algerie, Alitalia or Tunisian Airways for instance and then you'll know what travel is. No entertainment, stale food (I've had the same food served for lunch and dinner during a transit at Damascus Airport some time ago!). Some crew on Alitalia insist on speaking only in Italian - can you beat that? Delayed flights? no problem - British Airways and Emirates dont bother to even announce!
Ok, ok, lets compare AI with the so-called ''Best Airlines'', shall we? Take the cuisine for instance. Admit, it is yummy yummy good. And catering to every whim and fancy - halal, jain food even kosher food for the israelis is available on prior request! can you beat that?
The interiors are tastefully done up, unlike your bland off-white interiors of all major airlines - rajastani motifs, dainty and pleasing to one's visual and esthetic senses with Pt.Ravi Shankar's sitar melody gently wafting thro the aircraft as you board, well, I could go on.....
On ground services arent bad either - reservations, ticketing, follow-up for reservation confirmation, announcement of delays - all are on par with any other major airline.
The flip side is, as an organisation, it is overstaffed. More than 20000 employees per aircraft compared to 1600 in Singapore Airlines and 2200 in Cathay Pacific. If our honorable political clan can address this issue, AI will be making money and making every Indian proud. Trust me.
Jai Hind.
