MP abandons business class as Sonia flies economy

New Delhi: Passengers of Air India's Delhi-Mumbai-Aurangabad flight were in for a pleasant surprise on Monday when UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi took her place amid them in economy class. With the exception of first-time Congress MP Suresh Taware who was obviously dismayed to be seen in business class in the midst of his party's much-publicized austerity drive.
So Taware took the obvious, if expensive step. After greeting Sonia with the standard namaskar, he exchanged his front row business class seat with the economy seat of the Sikh gentleman.
Because of security procedure where SPG protectees' travel plans are kept secret, no passenger on the Delhi-Mumbai-Aurangabad flight (IC 887) knew Sonia Gandhi would be on board. The aircraft had four passengers booked for its eight business class seats, including Congress MP from Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) Suresh Taware.The two-hour-long flight was abuzz with excitement and many passengers wanted to click photos of Sonia.
The austerity drive may have caught on among politicians, but airlines are worried about this growing trend. MPs, ministers and bureaucrats flying business and first class were possibly the only segment unaffected by the slowdown as corporate honchos have shifted to either low cost carriers or economy class.
15/09/09 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Air India Domestic Sep 2009, Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2009, NACIL Sep 2009