Safety Is Top Concern for Indian Travelers – And It’s Changing How They Book: Exclusive Survey

Skift’s coverage of the Air India crash is offered free to all readers.

The recent crash of an Air India Dreamliner bound for London has reignited long-simmering fears about aviation safety — and put public trust in both Boeing and Air India under renewed scrutiny.

While the investigation is still underway, Indian travelers are already adjusting their travel. A new Skift survey reveals a sharp shift in consumer sentiment: Safety concerns aren’t just top of mind — they’re actively shaping booking behavior.

Following the incident, Skift has reported extensively on what’s at stake for Air India, Boeing’s credibility, and the broader Indian aviation ecosystem. But equally important is understanding how public trust is evolving and what that means for airlines and aircraft manufacturers alike.

Safety Is Now a Booking Filter

In our post-crash survey of Indian travelers who have recently taken a flight, 51% said they had actively avoided certain airlines over the past year due to safety concerns. An additional 28% said they steered clear of specific routes or situations. Only 5% reported having no concerns about airline safety at all.

To put this in perspective, Skift asked the same question in a recent survey of U.S. travelers — and the results were notably different. Just 35% of U.S. travelers said they had avoided certain airlines, and 19% said they had no concerns at all.

In other words, Indian travelers are nearly 1.5 times as likely as U.S. travelers to avoid airlines over safety concerns. This highlights the heightened sensitivity and growing scrutiny among Indian flyers, especially in light of recent incidents.

The Boeing connection is particularly striking. Amid mounting scrutiny of the aircraft manufacturer — including the 787 involved in the recent Air India crash — 88% of respondents said they would be willing to switch their booking to an alternative aircraft or airline if given the choice.

Even more telling: Nearly 70% expressed a strong preference for Airbus over Boeing.

IndiGo Rises as Trust in Air India Wavers

Skift’s survey reveals a significant trust gap between India’s two largest carriers — Air India and IndiGo.

When asked about the safety and reliability of each airline, 81% of travelers said they were either very or somewhat confident in IndiGo, compared to 66% for Air India. Confidence matters — especially in the aftermath of a disaster, where perceptions can quickly shift.

That trust gap becomes even more pronounced when we look at brand advocacy. We calculated net promoter scores for both airlines, based on how likely travelers are to recommend them. IndiGo emerges with a strong score of +29, driven by 50% promoters and just 21% detractors. Air India’s score, in contrast, stands at +5, with 36% of travelers saying they would not recommend the airline.

These numbers come at a pivotal time for Air India. The recent crash threatens to undercut the trust it has been slowly rebuilding under Tata Group’s leadership. As Skift has reported, the airline’s sweeping modernization efforts now face their most serious challenge yet.

Travelers Are Watching Aircraft, Not Just Airlines

While airline brand and service matter, the aircraft itself is increasingly under scrutiny.

When asked about their biggest concern when flying with Indian airlines, 59% cited the technical reliability and recent incidents involving the aircraft itself. Another 9% pointed to maintenance standards, and 7% said the type of aircraft — such as Boeing versus Airbus — was a top concern.

This suggests a more informed and selective traveler profile is emerging — one that is willing to dig beyond fares and frequent flyer programs to consider engineering reputation and manufacturing history.

What Happens Next

Indian travelers are no longer passive consumers of aviation news. They are responding in real-time to incidents, making more intentional choices, and showing strong preferences based on perceived safety.

This moment marks both a warning sign and a strategic inflection point:

• For Boeing, a need to rebuild trust, especially in a market that is still rapidly expanding.
• For Indian airlines, a chance to reset the narrative with transparency, robust safety communication, and operational reliability.
• And for regulators, increased pressure to demonstrate oversight and restore confidence in public air travel.
  

In a market as critical and fast-growing as India, that shift matters.