New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill hit out at Air India on Tuesday for its poor service, including “broken seats”, calling it the “worst airline”. In a post on X, Shergill pointed out that if there were an Oscar for the worst airline, Air India would win in all categories.
Without revealing any particular incident that drew his strong criticism, Shergill pointed out that the airline suffers from “broken seats, worse staff, pathetic on ground support staff and give two hoots about customer service” as some of the reasons behind his harsh remarks. He underlined that flying through Air India was not a pleasant experience; it “broke all records” on Tuesday.
If there was an Oscar equivalent for WORST AIRLINES @airindia would win hands down in every category :
> Broken Seats
> Worst Staff
>Pathetic “on Ground” Support Staff
> Give two hoots attitude about customer service !Flying Air India is not a pleasant experience but today…
— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) February 25, 2025
Air India responds
In response to Shergill’s criticism, Air India apologised. The airline said, “Dear Mr. Shergill, we apologise for the inconvenience caused. Kindly share the travel details with us via DM. We’ll get in touch with you.”
Not an isolated incident
This was not an isolated incident of political figures flaying the airline for mismanagement. Recently, BJP leader and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also slammed Air India’s poor service. On Saturday, Chouhan claimed he was given a broken seat on an Air India flight and criticised the airline for its mismanagement in seat arrangements.
Taking to X, Chouhan had written, “Today I had to come from Bhopal to Delhi, inaugurate the Kisan Mela in Pusa, hold a meeting of the Natural Farming Mission in Kurukshetra and discuss with the representatives of the Kisan Organisation in Chandigarh. I had booked a ticket on Air India flight number AI436, I was allotted seat number 8C. I went and sat on the seat, the seat was broken and sunken in. It was uncomfortable to sit.”
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
The minister also pointed out that he had hoped the airline would see improvement after being acquired by TATA management, but he admitted it was a misconception. “I don’t mind discomfort while sitting, but it is unethical to make passengers sit on damaged and uncomfortable seats after charging them the full amount. Isn’t this a form of cheating the passengers?” he added.
