NEW DELHI: Airline safety and passenger comfort have come under scrutiny after Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted their concerns regarding the deteriorating seating conditions on domestic flights operated by Indigo and Air India. Both leaders took to social media to voice their discontent, emphasizing the need for urgent intervention by regulatory authorities like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Experience with Air India
On February 22, Union Minister and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan shared a detailed account of his experience while traveling from Bhopal to Delhi on Air India flight AI436. Chouhan, who was assigned seat number 8C, found it to be broken and extremely uncomfortable.
आज मुझे भोपाल से दिल्ली आना था, पूसा में किसान मेले का उद्घाटन, कुरुक्षेत्र में प्राकृतिक खेती मिशन की बैठक और चंडीगढ़ में किसान संगठन के माननीय प्रतिनिधियों से चर्चा करनी है।
मैंने एयर इंडिया की फ्लाइट क्रमांक AI436 में टिकिट करवाया था, मुझे सीट क्रमांक 8C आवंटित हुई। मैं जाकर…
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) February 22, 2025
“I sat down, and the seat sank inside. It was uncomfortable to sit. When I asked the flight crew why they assigned a damaged seat, they told me that the management had already been informed, yet tickets were still being sold.”
Chouhan further revealed that multiple seats in the aircraft were in a similar dilapidated condition. Despite fellow passengers offering to swap seats, he refused, insisting that airlines should not charge passengers for seats that are not in a usable condition.
Expressing his disappointment, Chouhan remarked:
“I believed that Air India’s services would improve after being taken over by the Tata Group, but my assumption was wrong.”
He raised a critical question about whether Air India would take corrective measures or continue to exploit passengers who have no choice but to endure such discomfort.
In response to his concerns, Air India issued an apology, stating:
“Dear Sir, we apologize for the inconvenience caused. Please be rest assured that we are looking into this matter carefully to prevent any such occurrences in the future. We would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you, kindly DM us a convenient time to connect.”
Sunil Jakhar’s Complaint Against Indigo
Echoing similar concerns, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar shared his personal experience with Indigo Airlines on a Chandigarh-Delhi flight on January 27. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jakhar noted that broken seats were not limited to Air India alone. He shared pictures showing loosely placed seat cushions that were not properly fitted according to aviation safety standards.
It seems broken seats, as pointed out by Sh @ChouhanShivraj ji are not the exclusive domain of Air India. Here are some pictures of an Indigo Chd-Del flight on 27th January showing many seats having loosely thrown cushions and not the regular fitted seats conforming to the safety… pic.twitter.com/0f5R9ckAQd
— Sunil Jakhar (@sunilkjakhar) February 23, 2025
“The cabin crew, though courteous, expressed their inability to do anything about it and advised me to file a complaint on the airline’s website.”
Jakhar emphasized that his concern was not just about comfort but also about safety. He urged the DGCA to ensure that airlines maintain strict adherence to safety regulations and stop the ‘chalta hai’ attitude when it comes to aircraft servicing and maintenance.
Indigo responded to Jakhar’s concerns, clarifying their seat design:
“Sir, our seats are designed with removable cushions, secured by velcro, to facilitate easy cleaning and maintenance. On rare occasions, they may come loose at times and may require repositioning for better comfort.”
Call for DGCA Intervention
With two senior political leaders flagging these issues within days of each other, the focus is now on DGCA and airline operators to take swift action. The concerns raised indicate that maintenance negligence might not be an isolated issue but a widespread problem across multiple airlines.
The aviation regulator is expected to review these complaints and conduct safety audits to assess whether airline operators are compromising on passenger safety.
Following their posts, several passengers shared similar experiences, raising broader concerns about airline accountability and service standards. While Air India and Indigo have yet to respond with a formal statement, the airline industry faces mounting pressure to address passenger grievances effectively.
As air travel continues to be a preferred mode of transportation, ensuring passenger safety and comfort must remain a top priority. The coming days will reveal whether Air India, Indigo, and other airlines take concrete steps to rectify these issues or continue to operate with unresolved maintenance lapses.
