[dust-n-bones]

For ICT's fans, you can actually track them to Delhi and note the fancy call-sign

https://www.flightradar24.com/AIC24WC

[heavy_foot]

AIC24WC = Air India Champions 24 World Cup!!

[Naetik30]

Originally Posted by Naetik30

In May 2024, I made a trip from Bangalore to Copenhagen and back (for my Denmark-Norway roadtrip). The cheap-o in me, booked Air India for the entire trip to save some cost and boy did I regret it.

Some news on the same Copenhagen to Delhi flight I was on in May.

Looks like the flight was cancelled due to technical issues with some pathetic ground support for passengers. The B787s with Air India are in pathetic shape. Air India - It is time to scrap these air crafts before you lose whatever little good will you have left.



And you all would have heard the news about our World T20 winning team and how they were brought home today via a special flight. Well it turns out this was supposed to be an Air India scheduled Newark to DEL AI106 that was cancelled stranding 100s of fare paying passengers. This was diverted to the Carribean to bring home the team and the cup. To hell with regular customers - I need the bloody photo op.

[libranof1987]

"We informed passengers and offered to rebook them on other airlines. Still many passengers reached the airport for this flight. Some of them were sent on United to Delhi from Newark; some were driven to New York and then flown to Delhi on another AI flight and some were sent to hotels," said a person in the know.

"The team hotel in Barbados was running out of food, water and other essential items. Other airlines were not agreeing to operate a special flight. We felt it was was a national duty and pride to operate the flight. Once we ascertained it could be done with absolute safety, we operated the aircraft from Newark to Barbados," said AI sources

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../111473512.cms

If this is true, it is just outrageous. A lot of people are rooting for Air India, despite all their many issues, but they just make it that much more difficult. And using words such as national pride and national duty to justify this. Utterly shameful.

[heavy_foot]

The team was stranded in Barbados due to the hurricane, its not surprising they were prioritized. They are the national team for god sake!!

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

And using words such as national pride and national duty to justify this. Utterly shameful.

Agree. Much as I liked the 'most tracked flight' for all of 15 hours (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../111475942.cms), I feel for the poor souls who payed for a smooth flight back to India.

BCCI or AI should have on the spot arranged for a charter from Newark to Delhi for the 'patriotic martyrs'.

[Satkaj]

Originally Posted by heavy_foot

The team was stranded in Barbados due to the hurricane, its not surprising they were prioritized. They are the national team for god sake!!

National team deserved a charter flight and Air India passengers certainly deserved flight back home. Each of the passenger must be having their own priorities, commitment, need , urgency. No excuses.

[GTE]

I thought Tata had bought Air India & that it was not a government airline anymore. Shame!

[Turbohead]

Originally Posted by heavy_foot

The team was stranded in Barbados due to the hurricane, its not surprising they were prioritized. They are the national team for god sake!!

I assume you're ok with waiting in traffic for priority movement of VIPs too!

You'll never know what urgency those passengers have - they might be on their way to the funeral of a loved one, a surprise show-up for the wedding of their best friend, priceless moments with family or a business meet necessary for starting/sustaining a business. They all lost valuable time despite paying for the scheduled flight.

I feel Tata is slowly becoming untrustworthy.

[heavy_foot]

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[jraj]

Originally Posted by heavy_foot

that the National team is stranded in a place with a level 5 hurricane and with depleting food supplies.

The argument holds good if there was no way out and had BGI remained closed for commercial operations even further.

All commercial operations out of BGI resumed completely on July 2nd, the same day the team flew out. Even without the special charter, the team could have still flown their planned JFK/DXB route to India.

This thread is about Air India after the Tata take over and definitely not the PR that AI wanted on themselves. Even DGCA agrees and has asked AI to provide a factual report as to why equipment from scheduled operation was removed to fly a non scheduled international flight , which is against the DGCA rules.

Someone in their vested interest wanted to score some brownie points and didn't care about collateral damage along the way.

[dust-n-bones]

Originally Posted by heavy_foot

Some people just have a habit of whining even when the whole country is celebrating or cant comprehend a situation at hand that the National team is stranded in a place with level 5 hurricane and with depleting food supplies.

National team, it is not. Its the team of the BCCI. It is our choice to rest our emotions with them, or not.

Talking about the hurricane Beryl. It side-stepped Barbados entirely. Though the airport was closed, the damage was minimal. It was not just the cricketers. Global mediapersons (not just Indian), production crew, and most of the fans (Indian mostly) who turned up were left stranded due to the closure, and now will make it out on regular flights. So could have the cricketers.
Here is more info.

On the lighter note, the millionaires of the ICT would have been captive to the famed Air India hospitality for some 16 hours - torn seats, bland entertainment (if the screens work), stinking loos and a shaking juddering carcass like a roadways coach.

You give some, you get some. All is fair in love and nationalism.

[NomadSK]

In a country where cricket is a religion, the Gods will get the first preference.

[libranof1987]

Note from Support: Kindly be polite and respectful in debate, and avoid taking the discussion (Air India under Tata's ownership) any further off-topic. Thanks!

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

If this is true, it is just outrageous. A lot of people are rooting for Air India, despite all their many issues, but they just make it that much more difficult. And using words such as national pride and national duty to justify this. Utterly shameful.

Absolutely agree and in the entire episode, two things stand out the most.

- that 200 passengers who had confirmed tickets were taken for a ride

- and that BCCI contacted many airlines and charters but none of them responded.

BCCI- the richest body in the world had to pull the strings of Air India to get the service for the cricketers while the genuine ticket paying passengers were denied their rightful flight back home. I would be very pissed off if I have an emergency back home and I am left stranded by an airline just because some rich cricketers need to fly !!