AI staff shortage hits service

Mumbai: Several international travellers flying Air India have complained of poor service on board because the national carrier continues to operate flights with less than the approved staff strength. G Shivalkar, a passenger on board a New York-Delhi-Mumbai flight on December 6, recently filed a complaint about delay in cabin service. “Passengers complaints are pouring in by the dozens because on most flights the cabin crew is short-staffed,” said an airline operations official requesting anonymity, as he is not authorised to talk to the media.
Airlines sources said that different airplanes allocated on international routes are being operated short of at least three to four crew members. For instance, the airline has approved a crew count of eight flight attendants for an Airbus A 310, which has a passenger capacity of 181, but the airline is operating flights with only five crew members.
Last week, the crew met the airline management twice to sort out the issue. However, the matter remained unresolved. Earlier, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had also pulled up the airline on the issue expressing safety concerns.
14/12/10 Soubhik Mitra/Hindustan Times

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Categories: Air India Dec 2010