AI steeped in debt, but ignoring opportunities?

Mumbai: Bureaucracy and red tape may cost the debt-ridden Air India yet another profitable route, denying it a crucial opportunity to get itself out of the slump.
National Aviation Carrier of India Limited (NACIL) CMD Arvind Jadhav had flown to Australia in June to sign an agreement with Victoria State Premier John Brumby.
He proudly announced the launch of Air India's daily flights from Delhi to Melbourne from November 1, which would make it the first Indian carrier on the route. However, with barely three weeks left for the commencement of operations, the airline has not been able to get the necessary clearances and permissions from the Civil Aviation Ministry, raising doubts about the project being able to take off on time.
Speaking exclusively to MiD DAY, Carly Dixon, spokesperson, Melbourne Airport Authority, said that Air India has yet to complete the formalities related to the project.
A source close to the airline has, however, revealed that the airline is under pressure from the government of India to not start operations on this sector, "Air India might drop the plan citing that the sector is not a profitable one, thereby paving the way for private airlines to operate on it."
12/10/10 Bipin Kumar Singh/MiD DAY

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Categories: Air India - International Oct 2010, airports Oct 2010, Foreign Oct 2010, NACIL Oct 2010