Air India faces criticism over poor crew accommodation with ‘no bedsheets, towels…’
Air India comes under fire for the substandard accommodation provided to its crew members. Recently, Air India crew encountered an oversight when airlines forgot to book hotel rooms for certain cabin crew members upon their arrival in Hyderabad late Wednesday night.
As a result, the crew had to spend considerable time searching for alternative accommodations.
Reports indicate that the accommodations lacked basic amenities such as bedsheets and towels, sparking significant criticism and therefore crew members took to social media to raise concerns about the inadequacy of these facilities, which are essential for their rest and well-being between flights.
Aviation expert Manisha Singhal recently expressed her dismay over the poor conditions faced by Air India's cabin crew during layovers.
She described scenarios where crew members spent hours searching for suitable hotel rooms post-flight, before settling into a shabby hotel with missing items like bedsheets and towels.
Singhal argued that such conditions are inappropriate for an airline aspiring to maintain high standards of comfort and professionalism.
Accompanied by photos of the accommodations, Singhal emphasised, "“Again. Again. Yet Again!!! @airindia if you want to be a world class airline, you do not treat your fatigued crew on a scheduled layover flight this way. You simply DO NOT.”
“Hunting / wrestling for hotel rooms for four hours after a flight- and this is what is ‘offered’! No bedsheets, towels, basics??? ‘Imagine we stayed in the Taj and Marriott,’ someone who saw better days quipped," she added.
Again. Again. Yet Again!!!@airindia if you want to be a world class airline, you do not treat your fatigued crew , on a scheduled layover flight this way . You simply DO NOT.
Hunting / wrestling for hotel rooms for four hours after a flight- and this is what is ‘offered’! No… pic.twitter.com/hu1NUsTfj3 — manisha singhal (@manishasinghal) July 11, 2024
She stated that those days are definitely behind us, but this trade-off is not good enough. A tired and poorly treated cabin crew will remember that mistreatment forever. This fatigue could affect the experience of your passengers. Sacrificing dignity to save costs is never acceptable.
In the picture, a room features a lone bed without pillows or sheets, alongside a small table and chairs. Meanwhile, the reception area appears unorganised.
Usually, airlines make advance bookings for hotel rooms in the destination cities where flights are scheduled to arrive at night, accommodating both cockpit and cabin crew.
The issue has highlighted the need for better management and care in ensuring that airline staff have access to proper lodging, which is crucial for maintaining their health and performance. Air India's management has been urged to address these deficiencies promptly to ensure the comfort and safety of their crew
(Inputs by Bipasha Mehta)
- With inputs from agencies
