Kochi: The efficacy of the proposed shifting of Air India Express (AIE) headquarters here will largely depend on the level of powers that will be devolved, and the expats and travel agents are still skeptical about the seriousness of the move.
According to aviation experts, the shifting of headquarters will have a salutary effect if the officers at the level of deputy chief controllers to be posted here are vested with sufficient discretionary powers.
The travel agents and NRKs suspect that the shifting of AIE headquarters will be enforced only at a notional level. "Going by the past experiences, it is difficult to believe that the Mumbai-based staff and crew will be ready to shift to Kochi. The airline management may shift some people for certain periods to avoid criticisms, but they would be sent back after sometime. The only result then could be some additional payment of out-station allowances to those employees,'' said Biji Eapen, president of the IATA Agents' Association of India
Abdul Khader, who has been in the UAE for the last 30 years and runs the Al Sahal Group of companies there, said the shifting of AIE headquarters should not be a ploy to slow down the launch of the state's own airline, Air Kerala.
15/12/12 T Ramavarman/Times of India
