After annoying airport experience, Patel wants quid pro quo

New Delhi: Stung by his "annoying" experience at London-Heathrow and Chicago's O'Hare airports in the recent past, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has mooted a quid pro quo policy over the issue of extending courtesies and protocols to visiting foreign VIPs.
Patel has directed his Ministry to suggest to the External Affairs Ministry that this policy be adopted for protocols on a country-to-country basis in the same manner as the courtesies extended to Indian dignitaries abroad.
The directive came after the Minister was questioned by US immigration officials at O'Hare Airport late last month after his name and date of birth matched with that of another person reportedly on watch-list.
US Administration officials had later apologised for the mistake.
Patel had the "annoying" experience at Heathrow in London in March this year when he had gone for a review meeting and was later slapped a bill of Pound 416 for using the lounge at the new Terminal 5.
A senior official said Patel has suggested that "equivalent charges be levied, on a reciprocal basis, with all those countries whose airports charge for use of their VIP lounges."
In a letter to the External Affairs Ministry, the Civil Aviation Ministry said Patel has also recommended that the MEA should consider "differentiating between the use of the lounge by foreign VIPs for official and private purposes, and, should a lounge be used during a private journey, appropriate charges be levied upon the individual concerned."
22/10/10 Press Trust of India/NDTV.com

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Categories: airports Oct 2010, Foreign Oct 2010