Air India goes for a completely new look, but will airline start cutting down on flight delays on UAE routes?

Air India goes for a completely new look, but will airline start cutting down on flight delays on UAE routes?

Dubai: In the recent past, Air India has got itself a new owner, a revamped management structure, and placed an attention-grabbing order for aircraft. India’s national airline is not stopping with that – it has gone and changed all of its looks too.

The rebranding of one of the world’s oldest airline sees less of the ‘Maharaja’ mascot and bolder patterns adorning its aircraft. Will all this signal that Air India is willing to catch up with the world’s best airlines on performance and all other aspects of ensuring passengers get to have a smooth flight?

Airline industry sources keep talking of delays continuing to dog operations, especially on services to and from the lucrative UAE and Gulf sectors. Which is why the airline still has ways to go on the operational side.

“Substance remains the true passport to enduring success,” said Ashwani Sharma, Vice-Chairman of the Aeronautical Society of India and a former Air India official.

True, if Air India with its brand new looks has to compete with Gulf carriers – there are more coming, such as Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air - then the style has to meet substance.

Last week, the Tata Group-owned Air India revealed a new brand and livery with