FLIGHT IC 229

Back in our youth, around the mid-seventies and a bit later, air travel was considered a luxury, dominated by a state-owned airline known as "Indian Airlines" (IA) that held a monopoly over domestic flights. Another state-run airline, "Air India International," which was later abbreviated to "Air India," primarily handled international routes. While IA wasn't exactly famous for its punctuality, it did offer decent meals on board at no additional charge, unlike today's private airlines that often serve overpriced, soggy sandwiches or instant noodles in cups. Checking in was a breeze back then; there was no need to remove belts, shoes, or purses at security. The planes were generally well-kept, and surprisingly, smoking was permitted inside the cabin, with ashtrays conveniently placed in the armrests. Some adventurous travellers even sneaked in some booze in their hand baggage and had a swig on the sly. The seating was comfortable, providing more legroom than what many private airlines offer in economy class today. Most of the air hostesses on IA's subsidized short-haul flights, like Gauhati to Calcutta or Gauhati to Imphal, were typically middle-aged women with somewhat bored expressions, while those on more popular routes like Delhi to Bombay or Bombay to Goa were younger and more vibrant. In those days, you didn’t have to pay extra to secure a window seat, a bottle of water, or even a cup of tea or coffee. As you boarded the aircraft, you were welcomed with a Namaste from a saree-clad air hostess or a uniformed steward, or sometimes both. Their somewhat indifferent greetings were met with a slight nod from some passengers, while others chose to ignore them entirely. Once settled in, you were treated to candies, and after take-off, the food cart would come around to serve tea and snacks to everyone without charge. ........................ In the past, having a friend or family member working at the City Office of IA was considered a significant advantage. The officers and staff there were always impeccably dressed in crisp white uniforms. Being well-acquainted with someone at the City Office made it much easier to secure confirmed air tickets to various destinations, which were often hard to come by due to the limited number of flights available back then. Although new airlines like Vayudoot and Jamair emerged to meet the increasing demand, they only operated for a few years before vanishing. This was long before the rise of prominent private airlines such as Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, East West Airlines, and Damania Airways, along with budget carriers like Deccan Airways, Air Sahara, Spicejet, and Indigo. While only a handful of these airlines have managed to endure, many others have ceased operations. The airline industry in our country seems to have a high failure rate, yet we continue to see new airline companies entering the civil aviation space regularly. ........................ In the seventies and eighties, many of us stationed in Gauhati often made trips to Calcutta and beyond, frequently flying with Indian Airlines. The flight to Calcutta took about an hour and a half back then. I distinctly remember an incident from the early eighties on Flight IC 229 from Guwahati to Calcutta. Once we were comfortably airborne, I decided to light a cigarette. I noticed an older gentleman with grey hair in the aisle seat next to me, shaking his head disapprovingly and muttering, "So young and so foolish," which I could hear quite clearly. His words hit me hard, and I quickly put out the cigarette after just a couple of puffs. Around the same time, the Captain of Flight IC 229 made an announcement over the PA system, inviting us to take in the stunning view of the Himalayan peaks from the right side windows. However, the elderly man seemed unfazed by this and called over a cabin crew member, insisting that we divert the flight to Dacca for the safety of the passengers, claiming he sensed trouble ahead. The crew member obviously thought he was confused and tried to reassure him, but he was adamant that he knew best. Eventually, he settled back into his seat, closing his eyes as if lost in deep thought. ........................ After about five minutes, the Captain made another announcement, informing us that due to some major technical issues, we would be landing in Dacca instead of Calcutta in about fifteen minutes. He also mentioned that passengers would not be allowed to leave the aircraft and needed to stay seated. As it turned out, we got up stuck on the tarmac at Dacca airport for over three hours without food or air conditioning before we finally took off for Calcutta. Most passengers, along with the cabin crew, let out a collective sigh of relief and were keen to chat with the elderly gentleman who had predicted this unfortunate situation. However, he firmly requested to be left alone, not wanting to engage with anyone. Even now, I find myself wondering how he could foresee what others missed. I like to think he was blessed with some extraordinary insight, perhaps due to his ascetic way of life or simply good karma.