That is the question new Civil Aviation Minister wants officials to answer; asks for detailed reports about national carrier's losses so far
That is the question new Civil Aviation Minister wants officials to answer; asks for detailed reports about national carrier's losses so far
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Will Air India ever become a profit making body? Will Air India get its pride back?
These are the questions, which have been haunting the Maharaja for a long time and have come to the forefront again with the new minister taking over the civil aviation portfolio.
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Vayalar Ravi, the new minister for civil aviation, within a week of his joining, has made it very clear that his priorityis Air India.
While Ravi's predecessor Praful Patel had said on many occasions that he was the civil aviation minister and not the minister for Air India.
Sources within the Civil Aviation ministry revealed that Ravi has asked officials to submit a detailed report about the reasons why despite having the biggest infrastructure, the national carrier is facing recurring losses.
Settle disputes
"The minister has clearly asked the Air India management and also officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry to present the fact sheet why Air India is making losses," said a source in the ministry.
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"Also, he has asked the employees and the Air India management to settle their disputes at the earliest to ensure that there are no hurdles in the development of the national carrier."
Ravi has also made it clear that if certain changes are required in the existing policy to bring the national carrier on track, they should be carried out at the earliest, added the source.
"I will restore Air India to its former glory and get back its position of pride. I am committed to making it a profitable venture.
I request all pilots, crew and other employees of Air India to cooperate with me," Ravi had told MiD Day on January 19, when he had sworn in as the Civil Aviation Minister.
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However, the minister is in Dubai now and was not available for comment.
High morale
Captain Mohan Ranganathan, member Safety Advisory Committee of Civil Aviation, told MiD DAY, "For the growth of any airline you have to have motivated employees which was missing earlier.
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I think the new minister has been a part of a trade union in the past, so he will be employee friendly which will boost the morale of the employees."
He said that the merger of Air India with the Indian airlines was the biggest mistake. "The management, which is offering fancy salaries to people coming on top position from outside, should ensure that wages of employees are not cut. It should instead promote talent within Air India for the top job," said Ranganathan.
Rs 7,189 cr
Loss made by Air India in 2008-2009
Rs 5,551 cr
Loss made by Air India in 2009-2010
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