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Diaspora deserves better: Indian MP flags poor service on Air India flights
The remarks come amid complaints over service standards on Air India’s long-haul international operations.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 16, Feb 2026
- 15:07 EST
- 31
Gurjeet Singh Aujla / X/ (Gurjeet Singh Aujla)
Indian Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla has called on the government to urgently address service gaps on Air India’s international routes, amid increasing complaints from the diaspora.
“Our diaspora deserves world-class service,” said the parliamentarian from Punjab, arguing that persistent shortcomings on flights to key international destinations were undermining the travel experience of the Indian diaspora.
Also Read: Punjab MP seeks international flights from Chandigarh
Passengers on long-haul flights to Vancouver, Toronto & Australia are paying very high fares but travelling on aircraft with non-functional screens, broken seats, worn upholstery & poor cleanliness. This is unacceptable.
— Gurjeet Singh Aujla (@GurjeetSAujla) February 16, 2026
Urge Hon’ble Civil Aviation Minister Mr Ram Mohan Naidu to… pic.twitter.com/69KOFZs2Ov
In a letter addressed to Ram Mohan Naidu, India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Aujla said passengers on long-haul routes to Vancouver, Toronto and Australia—as well as services to the United States and the United Kingdom—were paying high fares while travelling on aircraft with non-functional inflight entertainment systems, broken seats, worn upholstery and poor cabin cleanliness.
Calling the situation “unacceptable,” Aujla said the affected routes are heavily used by students, families and working professionals from Punjab and other parts of North India, many of whom undertake journeys exceeding 12 hours. He said such conditions fall short of international aviation standards and erode confidence among overseas Indian travelers.
The MP urged the civil aviation ministry to ensure immediate upgradation of Air India’s long-haul fleet, improve ground support services and provide modern facilities for international passengers.
He also called for immediate inspections and audits of aircraft operating on Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and United States routes, along with time-bound refurbishment or replacement of outdated wide-body aircraft.
While acknowledging Air India’s ongoing fleet retrofit and modernization program, Aujla noted that upgrades to wide-body aircraft are expected to be completed only by 2027–28. Until then, he said, passengers on key international routes would continue to face avoidable discomfort unless interim measures are taken.
The intervention comes as Air India continues a phased overhaul of its fleet and operations following its privatization in 2022, amid heightened scrutiny of its international services as it seeks to rebuild its global reputation.
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