Sorry for the flight delay: your pilot is drunk

Air India is under scrutiny after one of its pilots reportedly failed two breathalyzer tests and had to be escorted from a long-distance flight before take off. 

Canada's transport regulator has asked Air India to investigate the incident, which occurred at Vancouver International Airport. 

 
The incident was labelled as a "serious matter" by Transport Canada in a letter to Air India and authorities are likely to pursue enforcement action, news agency Reuters reported. 

The incident occurred on Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Vienna, NEWS 18 said. 

In a statement, Air India confirmed the flight from Vancouver via Vienna to Delhi on December 23 experienced a last-minute delay due to the incident, adding that an alternate pilot was brought in to operate the flight.

"The pilot has been taken off flying duties during the process of enquiry," the airline said in a statement. 

"Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations. 

"Pending the outcome of the investigation, any confirmed violation will attract strict disciplinary action in line with company policy."

The letter from Transport Canada official Ajit Oommen has asked Air India to provide its findings and details of steps taken to prevent future occurrences by January 26, Reuters said. 

India has been under intense scrutiny since the June 12 crash of a Boeing Dreamliner killed 260 people. India's aviation regulator has flagged multiple safety lapses at the airline. 

New airlines keen to enter the perilous Indian aviation fray

There are literally dozens of Indian airlines that have either gone broke, or been taken over.

High operating costs, volatile fuel prices, thin margins, regulatory pressure, and fierce competition make aviation one of the toughest industries.

Over the past quarter century, nine Indian carriers have disappeared entirely including Air Sahara, Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Vistara.

That said, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation this week gave initial approval for two start-up airlines to compete with troubled market leader IndiGo and Air India.

It granted alHind Air and FlyExpress no-objection certificates, which is the initial step prior to securing a full air operator certificate, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Consumer groups and industry analysts have called for more market competition following the fallout of IndiGo's Scheduling woes over the past few weeks.

IndiGo has a dominant 65% share of the market. Air India is a distant second, with less than 30% share.

Regional startup alHind Air plans to start flying turboprop services in southern India while FlyExpress has not yet given any comprehensive details of its operational plans.

alHind says its will "begin its journey with a fleet of ATR 72- 600 model aircraft, initially focusing on providing efficient and reliable domestic air travel. With plans to expand its services to international destinations in the near future, alHindair aims to meet the growing demands of passengers and establish itself as a trusted name in the aviation sector".

Thinking of flying Air India? There is something you should know

Air India has been flagged for over 50 different safety violations by the national air regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The violations were uncovered during an audit this month and cover a wide range of lapses, travel news hub Travel Mole reported.

These included insufficient pilot training, rostering issues, and the use of non-approved flight simulators.

The airline is also in trouble for other recent maintenance record lapses and crew duty mistakes.

The audit report highlighted seven Level 1 serious breaches which have to be rectified this month.

There were 44 other less serious issues which must be fixed by August 23.

Investigators found some Boeing 787 and 777 pilots had not completed all their necessary "training and monitoring duties" ahead of evaluations.

The airline said it will "submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions." 

The crash of Air India Flight 171 in June claimed the lives of 260 people, putting the airline under increased scrutiny.

Air India trims flight schedule

Air India has trimmed its flight plans by 15% over the next few weeks.

The airline reduced its international flight numbers until July 15 amid plans to complete pre-flight safety checks following the fatal Ahmedabad plane crash earlier this month.

Some cancelled flights are also a consequence of airspace closures due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, travel news hub Travel Mole reports.

In official statements, the airline said it is in the process of completing a series of one-time safety checks directed by the Indian aviation regulator, DGCA.

These checks are carried out on airline's Boeing 787 fleet as they return to India.

Air India has completed checks on nine of the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and is on track to complete this process for the remaining 24 aircraft within the timeline provided by the regulator.

Some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround times and potential delays on certain long-haul routes - especially those to airports with operating curfews.

The website Aeroutes.com reveals cancellations and reductions in services to destinations including London Gatwick and London Heathrow, Chicago, Toronto Copenhagen and Paris, as well as to Melbourne and Sydney.

Customers are advised to check the status of their flights at http://airindia.com/in/en/manage/flight-status.html.

New Air India technology to track baggage

Air India has rolled out a real-time baggage tracking tool on its website and app.

Launching ahead of many competitors, the app comes in response to many complaints about delayed and mishandled baggage, Travel Mole reports. 

The airline says it is a comprehensive tracking system that only a few other airlines globally can match.

It enables passengers to track the location throughout the journey.

It will provide status updates at various stages like check-in, security clearance, loading the aircraft, and when it arrives at the baggage claim area.

“The status coverage includes all important baggage touch points where baggage tracking technology is available,” the airline said in a media statement.

Air India bans another pilot who failed an alcohol test

In my view any airline pilot who fails a breath test while on duty should be sacked with immediate effect.

If an Air India pilot who likes a drink fails a test, however, they get a slap on the wrist and three months on the naughty step.

Air India this week took what it describes as "disciplinary action" after another of its pilots failed a pre-flight breathalyser test.

This time it is a female pilot, which is relatively rare, Travel Mole reported.

The unnamed pilot was given an automatic three-month suspension, which means she could be back flying passengers by July.

The pilot serves as a first officer flying Boeing 787 jets and failed the test before a scheduled flight from Delhi to Hyderabad last week.

Air India has not publicly commented on the issue. It's probably too ashamed.

All crew members are required to take a pre-flight alcohol test before duty under India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation rules. 

Earlier this year, Air India dismissed a pilot who failed a breathalyser test shortly after flying an international flight.

The pilot tested positive for alcohol after completing a flight from Phuket to Delhi.

The pilot was the senior in the cockpit, working the flight with a newly-appointed captain, unlike the latest case where the boozy pilot was caught before taking to the air.

Sorry about the scorpion: airline passenger attacked

All sorts of weird stuff happens in India - but being stung by a scorpion mid-flight is beyond the pale.

Air India has issued an official apology to a passenger for what it described as a "rare and unfortunate incident".

The unidentified woman on a Nagpur-Mumbai flight last month was stung during the flight, India Today reported. It was not disclosed how the creature got on board. 

The airline said the passenger was not badly hurt. She was was given medical assistance on arrival and then taken to hospital for further treatment.

Air India said in its statement: “This was an extremely rare and unfortunate incident involving a scorpion biting a passenger.

“Our officials accompanied the passenger to the hospital and offered all support to the passenger until discharge.

"Our team followed the protocol and conducted complete inspection of the aircraft and found the scorpion after which due fumigation process was carried out. We sincerely regret the agony and inconvenience caused to the passenger.”

Another airline shuts its doors

Indian airline Vistara is to be shut down.

The giant Tata Group acquired the Air India and Air India Express brands 12 months ago and has now shut down AirAsia India and Vistara.

CEO Campbell Wilson said the decision was made to continue only with the two Air India brands, as they have the strongest brand recognition globally.

Vistara, a full-service carrier, will be be integrated into Air India, while low-cost-carrier AirAsia India will become part of Air India Express.

The moves should be completed over the next few months, Wilson told local media.

The integration of Vistara is still subject to approval from Competition Commission of India.

Vistara commenced operations on January 9, 2015 with its inaugural flight between Delhi and Mumbai and was one of India's leading domestic carriers.

The airline served 34 destinations with a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft that will be merged into the Air India fleet.

Travel alert: Watch out for in-flight urinators

Plenty of people behave badly when flying but an Air India passenger hit a new low when he urinated on an elderly woman.

In business class.

Air India has said it will review its onboard alcohol policy after the drunk passenger caused outrage.

CEO Campbell Wilson tweeted an apology after a "heavily inebriated" man urinated on a woman in business class, The Hindu newspaper reported.

“Air India acknowledges that it could have handled this better,” he said.

Amazingly, the man was only banned from flying on Air India for 30 days. Oops. Fail.

Indian media reported the man was a senior bank executive who has since been fired.

A police report was filed and the alleged perpetrator was arrested over the weekend and is being held for 14 days in custody, The Hindu reported..

The incident happened on a flight from New York to Delhi in November 26.

Wilson said the airline was taking steps to prevent future such incidents, including a review of its policy on serving alcohol and a better internal communication system for crew to lodge reports before landing.

The CEO also said that the victim had been receiving "ongoing assistance" from the airline after it received the complaint on November 27. Her tickets were refunded and he had met with her and her family on four occasions.

Both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Delhi Police are probing Air India for its failure to handover the errant passenger to security forces and report the incident when it happened.

Remarkably, Air India reported a second similar incident last month when a male passenger urinated on a vacant seat and the blanket of another passenger on a flight between Paris and New Delhi in December.

Singapore Airlines signals changes are afoot

Singapore Airlines might soon be part owner of two Indian airlines: Air India and Vistara. Or maybe not.

SIA confirmed this week that "confidential discussions" are ongoing with the Tata group to merge Vistara and Air India, Travel Mole reported.

Singapore Airlines currently has a 49% joint venture stake in Vistara with Tata, while Tata owns Air India outright. Tata also has 84% ownership in AirAsia India.

The Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai. Established in 1868, it is India's largest company with products and services in over 150 countries

“The discussions seek to deepen the existing partnership between SIA and Tata, and may include a potential integration of Vistara and Air India,” SIA said in a filing to the Singapore Stock Exchange.

“There is no certainty or assurance whatsoever that any definitive agreement will be entered into.

“Even if a transaction were to materialise, it would be subject to the relevant regulatory approvals.”

Tata Group has long sought to integrate AirAsia India and Vistara into Air India.

Vistara began operations in 2015. It gave the SIA Group a foothold in India’s fast-growing aviation industry and it is believed it may wish to transfer it into Tata’s integrated airline business.

Rats! Flight delayed by rodent on board

The late arrival of the incoming aircraft. Staffing issues. A mechanical fault. 

There are myriad reasons why a light might be delayed but an Air India flight bound from Srinigar to Jammu was this week delayed by two hours after a rat was sighted in the cabin. 

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered an investigation, Travel Mole reported.

The flight was able to depart from Srinagar Airport after rat was removed from the plane, airport officials told the news agency Press Trust of India.

Air India, under new management, did not respond to PTI’s request for a statement. Bad form. 

he Tata Group took over the operations of Air India on January 27. The Indian government sold the airline last year after a bidding process. 

It is not known how the rat got on board, or whether it survived.