Why don't you fly AI, Mr Patel?

Delhi: This would definitely not be music to the ears of the cash-strapped Air India.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who had been making a strong case for reviving the national carrier, has been patronising the number one rival of the airlines instead.
Patel chose to fly Kingfisher Airlines about 70 per cent more than Air India for all domestic travels during the last one year, it has been learnt.
In fact, in July 2009, the Finance Ministry had ordered all central government employees to fly only on the state-owned flag carrier for their official travel -- both domestic and international.
Patel, however, chose to fly the number one private airlines for most of his domestic travels undertaken during the period June 1, 2009 to July 2, 2010.
The details were revealed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in response to a Right to Information plea filed by Jagjit Singh, a central government employee himself.
Singh had sought to know the full details of the air travels undertaken by Patel--both domestic and international.
Out of the total 41 domestic flights between Delhi and Mumbai, Patel has flown Kingfisher 26 times. Singh pointed out that Patel incurred Rs 5.97 lakh on his travels by the airlines owned by Vijay Mallya's UB group.
16/08/10 Shashank Shekhar/MiD DAY

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Categories: Kingfisher Aug 2010, NACIL Aug 2010