In brief
Air India, under Tata Group ownership for three years, is working to improve its safety standards after recent incidents raised alarms about the airline's operational integrity.
Air India, the flagship carrier of India, has made headlines for its attempt to enhance safety following years marred by serious occurrences. The incident in August 2020 involved a flight from Dubai that tragically resulted in the loss of both pilots and 19 passengers due to a runway overshoot at Kozhikode airport. Since the acquisition by Tata Group, efforts have been made to upgrade the airline's operations. However, the shift has been met with challenges, including staffing shortages and increased competition from rivals like IndiGo, which together dominate India’s domestic air travel market.Now operating more modern aircraft alongside absorbing other smaller airlines, Air India has faced scrutiny and concern over its safety protocols, especially with a track record of deadly accidents — the last significant one prior to 2020 occurred in Mangalore in 2010. The Tata Group's chairman expressed condolences regarding the recent tragedy, reflecting a somber tone on the airline's website. Despite hopes for a successful transformation, Air India is still struggling to meet the demands of expansion with the necessary number of airplanes and pilots. In light of the recent crash, the airline assured it was cooperating with investigators to understand the incident better, while stock prices of Tata subsidiaries saw a decline following the news.
