‘Broken Seats, Non-Functional Screens’: Punjab MP Writes To Aviation Minister Over Air India Flights

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 14:55 IST

The MP stated that he has been receiving growing complaints, especially from travellers belonging to Punjab and the North Indian diaspora

Gurjeet Singh Aujla, the Congress MP from Amritsar, has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu raising concerns over the condition of Air India’s long-haul aircraft operating to destinations such as Vancouver, Toronto and Australia.

In his communication, Aujla said passengers on ultra-long-haul routes are paying high fares but travelling on aircraft with non-functional seat-back screens, broken or loose seats, damaged armrests, worn upholstery and poor cabin maintenance. He termed the situation “unacceptable" and urged the minister to ensure immediate upgradation of the long-haul fleet, improved ground support and modern facilities for international passengers, particularly from Punjab. “Our diaspora deserves world-class service," he said.

The MP stated that he has been receiving growing complaints, especially from travellers belonging to Punjab and the North Indian diaspora, regarding the condition and passenger facilities on these flights. He noted that many travellers have reported malfunctioning in-flight entertainment systems and overall unsatisfactory onboard conditions on journeys often exceeding 12 to 15 hours.

While acknowledging that Air India has initiated a fleet retrofit and modernisation programme to upgrade interiors, seating and entertainment systems, Aujla pointed out that the completion timeline for wide-body aircraft stretches into 2027-28. He said that until the upgrades are fully implemented, passengers — including students, families and working professionals — continue to face avoidable discomfort despite paying premium fares, and called for interim measures to ensure acceptable standards of comfort and service.

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