Crucial Air India meeting on 'Express' arm

Kochi: A crucial board meeting of the state-run Air India will be held in Kochi on Thursday to discuss relocation of the headquarters of its low-cost arm from Mumbai to a Kerala city and its rebranding as "Express India".
An Air India official, demanding anonymity, said that the meeting is crucial because it comes at a time when the carrier has drawn flak for withdrawing flights from Kerala to the Middle East.
"Following an outcry, they have reinstated quite a number of flights, with the recently cancelled Thiruvananthapuram-Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore being restored from Thursday," said the official said.
"Another decision that is likely to be taken up is rebranding the airline with a new name, which can mean a huge expenditure for the airline."
Another issue to be decided is the shifting of its headquarters from Mumbai to a Kerala city, with both Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi clamoring for it.
Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor has been vigoursly campaigning for moving the Air India headquarters to his constituency.
KV Muraleedharan, president of the Kerala Association of Travel Agents, said lobbies are working hard to make Kochi the base of Air India Express.
10/11/10 IANS

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Categories: Air India Budget Nov 2010, Air India Nov 2010