Air India Enhances Crew Safety Measures and Simplifies Incident Reporting

Air India is taking significant steps to bolster the safety of its crew members and streamline the process for reporting security concerns following an assault on a flight attendant in London earlier this month. The airline is actively reviewing its hotel selection policies to ensure both comfort and safety for its cabin crew during layovers.

In response to the incident, Air India has already shifted its crew to a different hotel in London and is revisiting its criteria for choosing accommodation, placing a greater emphasis on security aspects. The airline is also enhancing its internal reporting processes, making it easier for crew members to log safety or security issues through an updated version of the Coruson software application, which was initially selected last year for reporting in-flight safety incidents.

Air India’s Managing Director & CEO, Wilson Campbell, communicated these changes in an email to employees, urging them to utilize the modified Coruson system, which now includes specific tabs for safety or security concerns. “We encourage you to use this channel rather than informal ones so that issues can be tracked and overseen by the safety & security department,” Campbell emphasized. This system is designed to document issues systematically and facilitate coordinated resolution.

Following the unsettling event in London, Air India’s management reached out to its 8,000 cabin crew members to gather feedback on the hotels used for layovers, indicating a proactive approach to reassessing their accommodation standards. Air India, which operates flights to 80 domestic and international destinations, adheres to crew duty norms that mandate minimum rest periods between flights, necessitating overnight stays in various cities.

Despite these new measures, some crew members have expressed concerns that the actions are reactive rather than proactive. “It looks like it is an afterthought after the London incident. Crew had been flagging off security concerns about the London hotel from earlier but no action was initiated,” a flight attendant revealed. Additionally, other factors such as cleanliness and the availability of food round the clock are highlighted as crucial, especially since flight schedules often result in crew members arriving at hotels during off-hours when regular meal services may not be available.

While Air India management asserts that the safety and well-being of its staff are paramount and continuously monitored, the recent steps indicate a more determined effort to address and mitigate any gaps in their safety protocols. These improvements not only aim to enhance the security and comfort of the airline’s crew but also reflect a commitment to responding to their needs and concerns in a structured and effective manner.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, thehindubusinessline.com