Cutting out salads to fly high again?

Considering India’s national carrier is saddled with debts of Rs 50,000 crore, cost-cutting measures are long overdue and probably futile too. However, Air India’s staff is clearly well versed in the lore of the industry when it comes to cutbacks as is evident from their suggestions to deprive economy class passengers — always the unfortunate primary targets of such drives — of salads in their meal trays, and also take less in flight magazines on board to reduce weight, to save fuel costs.

No doubt American Airlines did indeed save $40,000 in 1987 by removing the single olive in its salads, but even cutting out salads altogether 30 years later will not do Air India much good. In 2011, Northwest Airlines saved a more significant $500,000 annually by cutting limes into 16 pieces, but had to fall in with Delta’s more expensive 10 segments per lime ratio when they merged; money was then saved by loading fewer limes on each flight.

American Airlines also went in for its distinctive bare metal body look because removing paint reduced aircraft weight; hopefully Air India will not impose such ignominy on its famously bashful Maharaja mascot. Hiring slimmer crew has also been tried by other airlines but Air India must have realised by now that nothing lightens loads as much as poor quality service, leading to less passengers over all.