New Delhi: Air India management's failure to utilize its aircraft and crew optimally has cast a shadow on the controversial fleet expansion plan suggested in the turnaround strategy prepared by the SBI Caps. A finance ministry-led panel of senior officials, which is examining this strategy, is learnt to be critically viewing the plan to add 135 planes to make a total fleet of 245 over 10 years and make the airline viable by 2019. A fund infusion of Rs 43,255 crore over 10 years is also needed to attain this viability.
"AI cannot be allowed to be in an expansion mode at this juncture. The airline is unable to optimally utilize its current fleet. Indian Airlines' pilots complain that their monthly flying is down from about 75 hours to less than 50 and their salaries (which are not paid on time now) have hit a rock-bottom. AI's pilots get fix pay irrespective of the hours they fly, but their actual flying time is also down. In such a situation, there are serious doubts whether AI can be allowed to add more planes," said highly-placed sources.
The aviation ministry is also having a rethink on the 27 Dreamliners ordered as part of a deal worth Rs 50,000 crore for 111 new planes during UPA-1 because the airline is sinking under debts, losses and dues.
21/07/11 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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