Has Indian Airlines forgotten the “Art” of flying?

Air India in its Heydays under the stewardship of J.R.D. Tata. Picture via Business Insider

Indian Aviation has come a long way from its “wild wild west” era and has now transformed itself into a force to be reckoned with as billions of dollars' worth of airplanes are being ordered and more routes are being added. But as a seasoned flyer, despite all of these advancements, there is something that's been eating me: HOW DID INDIAN AIRLINES GO FROM COMFORT TO CONVENIENCE? How did Indian Airlines go from offering world-class products and service in the 2000s to cramming passengers like cattle on planes?

The Extravagant Past of Indian Aviation

In my opinion, the golden age of Indian Aviation can be divided into 2 parts. First was the glorious 60s and 70s (pre-1978) when Air India and Indian Airlines ruled over the Indian skies. Air India, especially, was a far different airline than it is today. In the 60s and the 70s, under the guidance of the great J.R.D Tata, Air India was one of the most sought-after airlines in the world, even influencing airlines like Singapore Airlines in terms of service standard, the very same Singapore Airlines which is now one's part of the company, take that for irony. Not only that, but the airline also represented Indian culture very well with Rajasthani-style wallpapers inside the Jumbo Jet and an upper deck lounge like never before. However, things started to go downhill once J.R.D. Tata was removed from the airline’s board of directors.

Air India had one of the best 747 upper decks of its time, encompassing culture, warmth, and style very well. Picture via Pinterest

The second phase, and a phase I was fortunate enough to be a part of, was the post-deregulation era of the 90s and 2000s, when private players entered the scene. There were several airlines back in the day that offered high-quality service, but there were 2 in particular that stood out to me, Jet Airways and Kingfisher. I still fondly and vividly remember the quality service on board Jet Airways. Not only that, but the airline also proved it was way ahead of its time with the launch of its 777–300ER First and Business class cabin. I still vividly remember that as a child, Jet First and Business class blew my mind and were an aspirational product for me and millions of Indians just like me.

Considered to be one of the best for its time, Jet Airways 777s featured the herringbone seats offering direct-aisle access and more comfortable seating to its passengers. Picture via Wikimedia Commons

The Ultra-Luxurious Jet Airways First Class, which competed with the best of its time. Picture via BANGALORE AVIATION

However, if Jet was someone to bring the standards, Kingfisher was the airline to up the ante a little more. Man, oh man, what an airline it truly was. It was, by far, one of the very few Indian airlines to have a first-class level of experience in Business class and an onboard bar on its A330s! One vivid memory from Kingfisher for me would have to be its leather seats and amenity kits, in Economy class, mind you! But then, what happened? How did we go from amenity kits in economy to not even having in-flight meals in a lot of airlines!

Luxury had a new meaning with the launch of the Kingfisher First on it’s A330s. Picture via Pintrest

A still from a kingfisher flight showing it’s superior quality of service. Picture via Alarmy

The Turning Point

Everything changed in 2003, when a new airline was launched; however, this was no ordinary airline. Unlike the carriers of that time, the airline offered no in-flight services, which allowed it to price its tickets lower than it’s competitors, making air travel more accessible to the common man. The airline was none other than Air Deccan, the first low-cost Indian Carrier, which shaped the industry as we know it today. It paved the way for other carriers like Indigo, Go Air, and SpiceJet, with the rest being history.

The entry of Air Deccan shaped the industry as we know it today, paving the way for low-cost carriers. Picture via Wikimedia Commons

The Indian Aviation Industry is a tough nut to crack. With a price-sensitive market coupled with high fuel prices, it certainly isn't the most pleasant of journeys for airlines to operate and survive within. To add to that, full-service carriers have a higher cost of operations, which adds to the blow for them and allows low-cost carriers to offer competitive pricing. In the pursuit of offering competitive pricing, full-service carriers had to shut their doors forever as the revenue could not sustain the mounting costs, leading to catastrophic losses.

Vistara was one of the rare airlines in India offering a superior cabin product and service. Picture of its 787–9 business class via TheDesignAir

In a scene dominated by low-cost carriers, the only airline that comes close to the airlines of the past these days was Vistara before its merger.

Ray of hope?

Air India's A350 business class is currently one of the best products in the industry and country. Picture via Simple Flying

With the changes seen within Air India and Indigo launching its own business class product, one wonders whether Indian Aviation has a ray of hope. So far, Air India has received a positive response for its A350 flights; however, applying the same level of service and product to the rest of its fleet will take a long time. As I always say about Indian aviation, only time shall tell what awaits next!