Post-Air India Crash, Flyers Now Check Aircraft Type: Report

Following the catastrophic airline incident in Ahmedabad involving Air India flight 171, which is being labelled as the biggest aviation disaster of the century, a recent survey has revealed that Indian travellers are now more concerned about the type of aircraft before booking future flights. According to a survey conducted by LocalCircles, 41 per cent of Indian flyers will check the aircraft type before undertaking future travels. This survey received 40,000 responses from across 294 districts in India.

The survey report was released this Wednesday. LocalCircles.com is a social media platform focused on community engagement, governance, and urban daily life. It connects citizens with their governments, cities, causes, neighbourhoods, and other communities they belong to. Interestingly, they conducted a similar survey back in 2022, which showed that only a mere 10 per cent of air travellers considered the type of aircraft before making a booking.

The LocalCircle survey also revealed that flight timings and airline choice remain important factors in decision-making for 64per cent and 59 per cent of travellers, respectively. But the type of aircraft now plays an equally important role as flight connections and duration.

Safety Concerns

Furthermore, 56 per cent said that they support the government's decision to ground the Boeing 787-8 until all issues have been thoroughly investigated and resolved. According to LocalCircles, the survey asked airline travellers, “Multiple incidents globally have been reported with the Boeing 787-8 aircraft post the unfortunate Air India 787-8 crash in Ahmedabad. In the light of this, should Government of India consider grounding the 787-8 aircrafts till the issues are sorted?” Out of 20,742 airline travellers who responded to the question 56 per cent stated “yes, they must be grounded”; 34 per cent of respondents however stated “no, they shouldn’t be grounded till there is clear evidence of an issue” and 10 per cent of respondents did not give a clear answer.

Survey Demographics

LocalCircles said that the survey received over 40,000 responses from air travellers located in 294 districts of India. Of these, 61per cent respondents were men while 39 per cent respondents were women. The area distribution was 47 per cent respondents from tier 1, 32 per cent from tier 2 and 21 per cent respondents from tier 3, 4, 5 and rural districts. The survey was conducted via the LocalCircles platform, and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.

The survey report comes in the background of the tragic crash involving a London-bound Air India flight, and a spate of technical snags that have forced multiple aircraft to return mid-air or endure prolonged delays. The survey also arrives at a moment when geopolitical tensions highlight the interconnectedness of global air travel and how regional politics affect air travel. Airspace restrictions in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Pakistan are impacting international flights, forcing Indian airlines to take longer, more complex routes to reach important destinations in Europe and North America.