Changing Engines Mid-Air Might Be Easier Than Air India’s Upcoming Challenge
Air India faces a tough challenge as it prepares for a full merger with Vistara, aiming to match Vistara's superior service while overhauling its fleet.
Companies compare the challenge of keeping a company running while undergoing transformations to changing an engine mid-flight. Air India faces a similar challenge, but the problem involves an internal mid-air change, rather than external. This is proving to be difficult.
The airline has set a target of November 12 for a full merger and integration with Air Vistara, the clearly superior product from the same owners — the Tatas. The benchmark for the merged entity seems to be the quality of products and services that were offered by Vistara, the smaller of the two airlines. This is a desirable and grand outcome to aim for but not an easy one to execute.
It is rare for a large organisation to become the smaller one it acquires. For this alone, the transition process will be interesting to watch. The managements obviously realise this and are churning staff to make them more uniform in age and experience where feasible.
The latest news is that Air India has announced a $400 million refurbishment programme to overhaul 67 of its older aircraft which will begin with the 27 narrow-body Airbus A320neo planes, followed by 40 wide-body Boeing aircraft. The revamp will see a consistent three cabin layout with business, premium economy and economy seatings for all aircraft, like Vistara.
The Economic Times
Companies compare the challenge of keeping a company running while undergoing transformations to changing an engine mid-flight. Air India faces a similar challenge, but the problem involves an internal mid-air change, rather than external. This is proving to be difficult.
The airline has set a target of November 12 for a full merger and integration with Air Vistara, the clearly superior product from the same owners — the Tatas. The benchmark for the merged entity seems to be the quality of products and services that were offered by Vistara, the smaller of the two airlines. This is a desirable and grand outcome to aim for but not an easy one to execute.
It is rare for a large organisation to become the smaller one it acquires. For this alone, the transition process will be interesting to watch. The managements obviously realise this and are churning staff to make them more uniform in age and experience where feasible.
The latest news is that Air India has announced a $400 million refurbishment programme to overhaul 67 of its older aircraft which will begin with the 27 narrow-body Airbus A320neo planes, followed by 40 wide-body Boeing aircraft. The revamp will see a consistent three cabin layout with business, premium economy and economy seatings for all aircraft, like Vistara.
The Economic Times quoted Air India saying the first narrowbody aircraft, a single-aisle A320neo, went into the hangar on Monday and is expected to re-enter commercial service in December 2024. It will join eight recently-delivered and operational Air India A320neo aircraft that already feature the upgraded cabin interiors and configuration.
Three to four aircraft will similarly get upgraded every month with a completion date of mid-2025, which is what The Core has estimated from interviews on the likely date for an integrated company and a glitch-free product.
But it is largely the domestic product or short-haul flights and only involves smaller aircraft. Upgrading the 40 widebody aircraft, also where Air India gets the maximum flak for poor product, will start in early 2025 and will obviously go on for some time.
“Over time, all the legacy widebody aircraft will also be refitted. This comprehensive upgradation of Air India’s physical product is an important component of Air India transforming into a world-class airline,” said Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer and managing director of Air India.
Vistara had said its aircraft and passengers will be handled by Air India from November 12.
Air India's fleet currently comprises 128 aircraft while Vistara has 70 aircraft. And Air India flies to several lucrative international routes.
Handling this change, to stick to the mid-air engine and now cabin change analogy, will require very solid and consistent communication with all stakeholders, including for example Vistara passengers who will surely protest when they land up in older Air India aircraft. Changing engines mid-air might be easier compared to the challenge that lies ahead for Air India.
