Monday, September 28, 2015

Analysts skeptical of Air India’s Dreamliner problems

The old service industry adage that the customer is always right apparently doesn’t apply to Air India, according to aviation industry analysts.

Those experts say the carrier’s repeated complaints about Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliners are wearing thin, not that there was much substance to them to begin with.
A report last week by www.dnaindia.com, an online news service, said Air India’s engineers have asked management to hold off on the delivery of any more 787s until myriad problems are fixed. The airline claims to have lost about $27 million over the past year on international routes that use the Dreamliner, with much of those losses attributed to snags that have grounded airplanes.

The Times of India, the country’s largest selling English language newspaper, proclaimed earlier this month that: “After a period of relative calm, Dreamliner snags are back with a vengeance for Air India.”

Saj Ahmad, chief analyst for Strategic Aero Research, said he’s skeptical of the airline’s claims, saying they are more likely due to operator error.

“Air India is an utter farce of an airline,” Ahmad said. “From the ground up, this entire mismanaged entity was way out of its depth in taking the 787 because it’s just so advanced.”

Ahmad said it speaks volumes that none of Boeing’s other 30-plus Dreamliner customers have reported similar problems.

“The only natural conclusion here is that the problem lies solely with this ... airline,” Ahmad said.
27/09/15 David Wren/The Post and Courier
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