Air India Takes a Dig at IndiGo, Advertises ‘Unbeatable’ Service

One of the two ads targeting Indigo were later taken down.

With IndiGo Airlines facing flak over an assault incident, its rival and national carrier Air India, on Wednesday, took an apparent dig at the country's leading private carrier, promising "Unbeatable Service".

Hours after a video of an IndiGo staffer manhandling a passenger surfaced on TV news and social media, Air India tweeted this poster.

pic.twitter.com/2ZANNDEr4S

— Air India (@airindiain) November 8, 2017

Air India promising "Unbeatable Service" with 'beat' highlighted in blue – Indigo’s theme colour. (Obvious enough?)

The second ad depicted Air India's mascot 'Maharaja' in his trademark style with a tag line: "We raise our hands ONLY to say Namaste." This poster was later taken down, reported India Today.

The private airline, meanwhile, faced a heavy blow of criticism on Twitter for last month's incident.

"A no fly ban is a must on this airline till these guys are arrested with an attempt to murder #BoycottIndigo," tweeted Aditya Thackeray, the president of Shiv Sena's youth wing.

A no fly ban is a must on this airline till these guys are arrested with an attempt to murder #BoycottIndigo https://t.co/3i8lxo03iL

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) November 7, 2017

"This kind of arrogant behaviour seems to have become the norm for @IndiGo6E. I hear of rude behaviour instances by Indigo on regular basis," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain posted on the microblogging site.

The confinement & assault of the passenger by Indigo staff is reprehensible. The way Indigo management dealt with the situation is even worse. https://t.co/ZVivxJ0mru

— Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) November 8, 2017

Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi tweeted, "After seeing the brutal assault on a passenger, almost throttling him to death, should Indigo not be boycotted – at least for a month?"

After seeing the brutal assault on a passenger, almost throttling him to death, should Indigo not be boycotted - at least for a month?

— Dr. S.Y. Quraishi (@DrSYQuraishi) November 7, 2017

Many others tweeted their doubts and disappointment.

Hey @IndiGo6E, my aged parents are flying a couple of weeks later. Given the recent incident involving a senior citizen, can you guarantee their safety, or shall I rebook them on a different carrier? Thank you in advance! #TarmacTerrorTape #IndiGo

— Amrit Panigrahy (@amrit_panigrahy) November 8, 2017

Cancelled my #indigo flight to jet. Better food and less chances of getting beaten up. #disgrace

— Meenu Arora ღ (@MeenuKumarr) November 8, 2017

"First @Pvsindhu1 and now this ..I am not traveling @IndiGo6E till they apologise," wrote another Twitter user.

The airline was also the butt of jokes on social media.

Have enrolled for kalari payattu classes. Have an Indigo flight 3 weeks later

— Ushy Mohan Das (@UshyMohanDas) November 8, 2017

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has sought an independent inquiry into the incident from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

IndiGo has also written to the ministry apologising for the incident and admitting that it was at fault.

However, it defended the employee seen in the video entering into a brawl and said "he was doing his work" and trying to ensure the safety of the passenger.