Air India’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Campbell Wilson, addressed the challenges posed by dense fog and the recent fine imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in an internal message to employees. The DGCA had levied a ₹30 lakh fine on both Air India and SpiceJet for not rostering pilots trained for fog landing, despite instructions given prior to the onset of the fog season.
In response, Wilson highlighted the airline’s commitment to better managing fog-related disruptions in the future. He outlined strategies, including building a larger pool of Category III (CAT III) crew, improved roster planning, schedule buffers, and, when necessary, more pre-emptive flight cancellations.
CAT III compliant runways enable flights to land in challenging weather conditions, such as dense fog or heavy rain. Wilson attributed recent flight delays not only to fog but also to the unexpected closure of one of Delhi’s low-visibility runways for repairs, impacting operations across airlines.
Acknowledging the efforts of employees in dealing with challenging circumstances, Wilson emphasized the need for proactive measures due to the likelihood of recurring fog seasons and increasing airport congestion.
The article also shed light on the aftermath of DGCA meetings held annually before the fog season, where instructions regarding pilot rosters for low visibility operations were issued to airline operators. IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers expressed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the need for operational reviews to prevent disruptions.
Switching gears, Wilson provided insights into Air India’s fleet expansion and modernization plans. He mentioned the continuous arrival of new aircraft, including A350, A320, and B737 jets, with the goal of inducting and operationalizing a total of 68 new aircraft in the current year. The CEO also highlighted the ongoing upgrades to 40 legacy Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, as well as the imminent delivery of the remaining four leased B777 aircraft.
Reflecting on the two years since Tata took over Air India, Wilson shared positive statistics, including a 33% year-on-year growth in passenger numbers, the addition of 117 operational aircraft, and the return of 90% of long-grounded planes to service. He emphasized the upcoming upgrades and improvements in consistency, acknowledging the progress made since privatization.
In conclusion, the article touched upon the recent milestones achieved by Air India, such as the commercial operations of its first A350 aircraft and the plans for upgrading interiors across its fleet. Despite challenges, Wilson expressed optimism about the future and urged employees to continue meeting high expectations as the airline progresses under Tata’s ownership.