'Airlines are bluffing'

While private airlines have threatened not to fly on August 18, experts believe that it is nothing more than an attempt to get the government to the negotiating table.
That's because the cash-strapped airlines will still risk paying a huge sum towards airport parking, refunding airfare to the passengers and, above all, plan where and how to park all the 300-odd aircraft.
Aviation expert Vipul Saxena said, "The situation is very challenging for the DGCA, which has to ensure that passengers do not suffer and airlines do not violate the conditions of operating on mandatory routes, which are attached to the permission to operate on profitable routes."
He added that chances of a full-fledged strike taking place are remote. "Airlines may run services to a limited sector by not operating in loss making/less attractive sectors," he observed.
Experts also pointed out that the joint decision of the private airlines only hinted at cartelisation.
"As far as support from the ministry is concerned, it is likely to be feeble, as at the time of permitting alliance of Kingfisherâ??Jet Airways, the civil aviation minister had very categorically promised to take stringent action against any move towards cartelisation," Saxena said.
Industry analysts observed that after the Congress's encouraging performance in the general elections and in the light of forthcoming Maharashtra polls, for which the NCP is already struggling for a favourable seat sharing formula, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel would only be under severe pressure from his party to ensure that the situation is handled with dexterity and that no pressure is exerted on the Centre.
01/08/09 Aditya Anand/MiD DAY

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2009