Air India Express (AIE) is planning to introduce three additional flights from Kozhikode to the Gulf.
This was stated by K. Shyam Sundar, the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Air India Express, at a face-to-face organised by the Malabar Chamber of Commerce (MCC) at P.V. Sami Hall, here on Thursday.
The flights from Kozhikode to Bahrain, Doha and Dammam are dependent on availability of additional aircraft. “We wanted to obtain the additional flight on lease to operate the services, but it is very expensive,” he said.
The carrier is giving high priority for the refurbishment of the interiors of all the 17 aircrafts now being operated by the airline to various destinations.
Four of the aircraft have already been refurbished and such aircraft provide more comfort and a better ambience to the passengers, he said.
Malayali cabin crewThe airlines plans to recruit more air hostess who are proficient in Malayalam, said Mr. Sundar.
“We have currently fewer number of crew speaking Malayalam, which will be addressed on completion of the fresh recruitment drive,” he added.
Justifying the stance of Air India Express to limit the luggage to 30 kgs, he said it was meant to accommodate more passengers. “If we allow more luggage, it would not be possible to accommodate more passengers and would affect even the basic function of an aircraft,” he explained.
Poor foodTo a complaint on ‘poor quality’ of food served in Air India Express flights, Mr. Sundar said, the quality of food could be improved only by collecting additional money from passengers. “The private carriers are offering this after collecting money from the passengers which the Air India Express cannot consider,” he said.
He said flight operations were on time and its reliability had increased 100 per cent since he took charge as CEO.
