Aditya Kondawar, a startup vice president and author, has vowed never to fly with Air India Express again following an unpleasant travel experience from Bengaluru to Pune. Kondawar's journey was marred by multiple issues that culminated in his decision.

The ordeal began with a significant delay; the flight, initially scheduled for 9:50 pm, did not take off until after midnight. Upon boarding, Kondawar encountered an aircraft in poor condition, noting dirty and stained seats and an unpleasant smell within the cabin. Frustrated, he took to social media platform X to voice his dissatisfaction.

In his post directed at Air India, Kondawar stated, "Thank you for teaching me a valuable lesson last night. I am never flying Air India or Air India Express again. I will pay extra for other airlines or even consider alternative transportation like a bullock cart."

Air India Express promptly responded to Kondawar's complaints, issuing an apology for the inconvenience and explaining that the delay was due to factors beyond their control. They also assured him that the issues he highlighted regarding the aircraft's condition would be addressed.

Many X users chimed in, sharing similar negative experiences with Air India Express and commenting on the airline's poor service.