'Lacks Competent Managers': P Chidambaram Slams Air India For Flight Delay

Air India faces criticism from senior Congress leader Chidambaram for incompetent management following a flight delay.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram (Image: PTI)

Source : PTI

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday slammed Tata-owned carrier Air India for flight delays and lack of 'competent management'. The former Union Minister claimed a Delhi-Chennai Air India flight was delayed by another half an hour and the passengers were asked to wait at the aircraft door for 15 minutes after being cleared for boarding.

Taking to X, Chidambaram noted that he is a frequent Air India traveller and accused the new management of incompetence. "All passengers on flight AI 540 Delhi to Chennai are standing on the aero bridge for the last 15 minutes. We were cleared for boarding at the gate but were told to wait at the aircraft door. Passengers are just boarding 10 minutes after departure time. No one knows when the flight will depart," he wrote.

All passengers on flight AI 540 Delhi to Chennai are standing on the aero bridge for the last 15 minutes

We were cleared for boarding at the gate but were told to wait at the aircraft door

Passengers are just boarding 10 minutes AFTER departure time. No one knows when the…

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 5, 2024

"I am a frequent traveller by Air India. I regret that there has been practically no improvement since the management changed hands from the government to the private sector. I can list a number of aspects of flying that can be improved by competent management. I think Air India lacks competent managers at different levels," the Congress leader added. 

Later, in an update, the former Finance Minister said the flight was delayed till 9:15 pm from its scheduled time of 8:45 pm. "AI 540 Delhi to Chennai, scheduled to depart at 20:45 hours, is pushing back at 21:25 hours and will take off shortly," he said.

Former national carrier Air India -- which had been making losses for years and was kept afloat with tax-payers money -- returned to the Tatas after 69 years in January 2022.