Air India to hold random checks at Mumbai, Delhi airports for cleanliness

Air India chief received complaint recently about cleanliness of airline's Hyderabad-Chicago flight

Air India chief Ashwani Lohani has instructed senior officials of the national carrier to visit Mumbai and Delhi airports in midnight by turn for a random inspection of cleanliness and upkeep of aircraft before their departure for international destinations.

The instructions came following Lohani receiving a complaint recently about cleanliness of the airline's Hyderabad-Chicago flight via New Delhi.

As part of the three-week long special exercise, which commenced yesterday, Lohani will visit the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) today to inspect all aspects of the aircraft, according to a circular issued by AI on Tuesday.

The officials who have been asked to visit the airport for inspection are functional directors, executive directors as well as general managers.

"I received a complaint about the cleanliness and upkeep of flight AI 127 (of date May 30). Such complaints especially for international flights are not acceptable. It clearly indicates lack attention and cannot be tolerated," Lohani said in the circular.

He also said the designated officials will visit IGIA in night and do random checks of all aspects of ULR (Ultra Long Range) flights before their departure.

"The sanctity of the programme needs to be maintained. A brief open page report may be made and submitted to my office the very next day after the inspection," he said.

Besides, all station managers/regional managers to personally inspect all ULR/international flights from their stations for the period up to June 18 every day "without fail", the circular read.