Airlines set up joint pressure group

Mumbai: In a first-of-its kind move, 10 domestic passenger and freight airlines have formed a national federation that will address their problems and create a platform to work together.
Called the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), it will be headed by Air-India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas and will act as a joint pressure group to convince the government about the infrastructure problems faced by most airlines.
The association will also appoint a director-general. “We will appoint a head-hunter to identify one,” said Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya.
The initial corpus of the federation will be Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 lakh per airline). The contribution in the subsequent years would depend on the budget and the federation’s needs but the minimum would be Rs 10 lakh.
Contrary to popular perception, Thulasidas said pricing would not be part of the federation’s agenda.
17/10/06 Business Standard

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