Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, on Wednesday, expressed hope that Air India would make a turnaround in its fortunes with the induction of long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner. He, however, asserted that the government would give no more bail-outs to the cash-strapped national carrier.
The first commercial flight of the state-of-the-art Dreamliner would take off on September 19 from New Delhi to Chennai and Bangalore.
“We are hopeful that the fuel-efficient Dreamliner will take Air India back to the good old Maharaja days,” he said at a media interaction here. However, he was quick to assert that Air India would have to take strong measures to cut costs as the government could ill-afford to give any more money to the flagging airline.
Air India had posted an increase in revenue of 6.5 per cent during April-September this year at Rs.4,757 crore against Rs.4,467 crore in the same period a year-ago despite a long strike by the pilots. “For the first time since merger in 2007, the airline has made a cash surplus of Rs.48 crore during April-July 2012 as against a cash deficit of Rs.586 crore in the year-ago period,” the Minister said. The net loss during April-July 2012 came down by Rs.557 crore. Mr. Singh said Air India had taken back 316 of the 413 pilots who had reported sick, a move that led to disruption of Air India’s normal schedule.
“Of the remaining 97 pilots, whose services were terminated, 50 pilots have been recommended for reinstatement, five pilots have not been found suitable, and the remaining are still under consideration,” he added.
Air India CMD Rohit Nandan said the airline had set up a committee to have a close look at the market and decide on whether there was need to induct more aircraft.
Keywords: Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Civil Aviation ministry, Air India
Too late in the day, minsiter. This should ahve started by Praful Patel,. He believed that with his writ of merger things would go automatically. See the fate now. Now the air india wallahas are agitated on the great question of their aircrafts not being named of great kings of ancient India!!!
it is good
Air India should operate unused but very highly profitable and
lucrative
routes like bombay singapore san francisco on the pacific route
bombay madras seoul san francisco bombay bangalore hongkong sfo
bangalore frankfurt san francisco and bombay hongkong los angeles
and similarly delhi hkg sfo and delhi hkg lax
this type of operation will be more effective and high revenue
yielding
and good competition to other competitors like Lufthnsa,
singapore airlines, cathay pacific airways etc. people of the west
coast of usa have totally forgotten airindia since they dont operate
to west coast (previously they were operating to los angeles via FRA
it was stopped by the great minister mr praful patel who killed
airindia and paved the way for jetair and kingfisher airlines to
operate the same routes)
if airindia operated flights like the above, using the dreamliner
aircraft it will bring lot of profits which will wife off previous
years losses. AI does not need central govt's financial help.
The main reason for the sickness is the mismanagement which is yet to be attempted
fully. hence introduction of the latest air crafts will make no improvement. Perhaps
the media may be happy so thing to chew( lies0
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner should be utilised fully for abroad travel from the four Major Airports: Chennai, Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. In case of other Airports, the economic viability of total no. of passengers can be taken into account by the Air India,since it can accommodate more passengers. That way the Airline can earn good amount of Foreign Exchange for the Country too.
Air India has the infamous tag of an airline kept for carting the self appointed VIPs at their
whims and carting the over bloated employees and their relatives while the paying
passengers are wait listed! Unless the administrators take to the cutting of the fat and
maintan policies and procedures to make an earning for the airline and make it viable and
self sustaining, the existing sham of an airline would continue. It all means,administrative and
financial independence of the airline from thr Government in office!
It is great that Air India has acquired fuel efficient Dreamliner. However, Air India's turn around will not be possible until it improves its service attitude and pay attention to their customers comfort on-ground and on-flight. The airline has to understand that the "satisfied and happy customers" are its best asset. The management and the Government should hire some consultants to develop a “pro-customer” culture like many Asian airlines, such as Singapore Airline.
Liquidating Air India will save tax-payers from losing money in future. They will keep buying new planes even if they have no money. If we are hoping for bureaucrats to do what most businessmen or struggling to do in the brutal airline business, we are setting ourselves for failure. The previous minister made his money through these new airplanes. Now this new minister will try and justify the need to have Air India till he finds his lucrative contract.
Sell Air India, Cut the losses, Liberate the tax-payers from this black-hole!!!
Air India cannot make a turn around with the dream liners unless the attitude of the cabin crew changes to passenger friendly. recently my daughter flew by Air India from Calicut to Sharjah by paying a high price (as it is high season) but experienced a very bad crew behaviour towards the passengers. The day they change their attitude irrespective of the colour or status of passengers, Air India will definitely turn around but not just with the dream liners.
This is all very nice, but when on earth will the renovated airport in Chennai be opened??
It is a SHAME that Chennai, which handles the third-largest number of air passengers in the country, has an airport that is more like an air-conditioned bus station.
Nice to know that Air India will be flying the long haul 787 dream liner on domestic routes to turn around the fortunes of the ailing carrier. Ha Ha.
Air India pilots already fly long haul routes and their are a sufficient number of trained pilots who can fly the dream liner then why should this long haul aircraft be flown on domestic routes?
Sirs, this aircraft has been designed as a Long haul aircraft to achieve optimum efficiency in fuel saving, using it on short haul sectors will not only reduce its efficiency but overall life cycles which will result in increased maintenance costs etc.
God bless Air India. recently they have stopped the Chennai-HYD-Chennai morning flight that was going full and instead Spice Jet has taken that slot!! What turnaround the Minister is talking about??
Very smart move. You had spent so much of money on this aircraft and you
are going to use it on a short haul domestic route first....just mind
boggling...that you in dire situation with your finances, you need to
put this aircraft to use where you can make money like overseas flights
like London - Delhi or Chennai - Newark.....non-stop..
it is good to see Air India inducting latest aircraft to enable the
airline to turaround
All plain and simple gas. As usual the Ministers stir up false
hopes. Atr India's services are so deplorable that even "Magic
Carpets" will not improve it's image.
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