AI cabin crew still stuck in air pocket

Delhi: For Air India, it seems those who travel on domestic circuit are 'less important' than the fliers on the international routes.
Following MiD DAY report that the national carrier was operating a number flights on both international and domestic routes with less crew members, the airline withdrew its December 31, 2010 order in which the crew strength had been reduced for international flights. However, on domestic sector, the airline is maintaining the status quo and the Airbus 321flights are being operated with less crew members, sources said. Airbus 321 is mostly used for operation on Delhi- Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi- Bangalore routes.
Interestingly, this has happened even after the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked the airline that no emergency exit in an aircraft be left unattended and flights be operated with enough cabin crew to man each door. The DGCA in its memo last week had stated that the minimum cabin crew must be deployed as per the each and every Emergency Floor Level Exits because with lesser cabin crew any small emergency can turn into a major disaster.
With Air India paying no heed to DGCA order, sources told MiD DAY that Air India Cabin Crew leaders are going to meet DGCA sometime next week. "We had sought an appointment with DGCA officials on January27. However, we could not meet them as they were busy. Now, a meeting is expected to take place next week," said a senior crew member.
28/01/11 Surender Sharma/MiD DAY

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Categories: Air India Domestic Jan 2011, Air India Jan 2011