BJP leader Jaiveer Shergill launched a scathing attack on Air India, labeling it the “worst airline” after experiencing broken seats and poor service. His criticism comes just days after Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan publicly rebuked the airline for similar issues.
Shergill Slams Air India
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Jaiveer Shergill expressed his frustration, stating that flying Air India “broke all records” of a bad travel experience.
“If there was an Oscar equivalent for WORST AIRLINES, Air India would win hands down in every category: > Broken Seats > Worst Staff > Pathetic ‘on Ground’ Support Staff > Give two hoots attitude about customer service!” he wrote.
Air India responded nine hours later, apologizing for the inconvenience and requesting Shergill’s travel details via direct message. However, his complaint triggered a wave of responses from other disgruntled passengers. One user called the airline “horrible and pathetic,” while another alleged that he had paid for business class but was seated in economy.
Despite the criticism, some passengers defended Air India, pointing out that the Tata Group has been working on improving the airline since taking ownership in January 2022.
Shivraj Chouhan’s Complaint
Jaiveer Shergill’s remarks followed similar criticism from Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who recently slammed Air India for allotting him a broken seat on a flight from Bhopal to Delhi.
In a long post in Hindi, Chouhan shared his unpleasant experience, saying, “I sat on the seat, but it was broken and sunk in. Sitting was uncomfortable. The airline staff admitted that they had informed the management, yet the seat was still allotted to me.”
He further claimed that several seats on the aircraft were in a poor state and accused the airline of unethical practices, questioning why passengers were being charged full fare for defective seats.
Air India swiftly responded to Chouhan’s post, apologizing for the inconvenience and assuring him that corrective action was being taken.
Aviation Minister Steps In, Congress Takes a Dig
Following Chouhan’s complaint, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stepped in, stating that he had spoken to the minister and instructed Air India to take immediate action.
Meanwhile, Congress seized the opportunity to criticize the BJP-led government, highlighting issues in the aviation and railway sectors. Reposting Chouhan’s tweet, Congress remarked, “Passengers are troubled in trains, passengers are distressed on planes. Complaints keep pouring in, but no action is taken. Now, since Shivrajji has faced a problem, maybe something will be done.”
Air India’s Transformation Under Tata Group
Air India, previously a debt-ridden public airline, was acquired by the Tata Group in 2022 for ₹18,000 crore. Since then, the airline has undergone a major transformation, including a rebranding and fleet expansion.
As part of its revival strategy, the airline placed a massive order for 470 aircraft—250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing. However, despite these efforts, service-related complaints continue to haunt the airline, as evident from the recent backlash by BJP leaders and passengers.
Sources By Agencies
