Govt's remedy for troubled A-I ? officials to tour only on national carrier

To provide assistance to cash-strapped Air India, the finance ministry today said all air travels on official account, both domestic and international, must be done through the national carrier only.

“... It has been decided that in all cases of air travel, both domestic and international, where the government of India bears the cost of air passage, the officials concerned may travel only by Air India,” the finance ministry said in an official memorandum.

It said that for travels to stations not connected by Air India, the officials may travel by Air India to the point closest to their eventual destination, beyond which they may utilise the services of another airline, which should also preferably be an alliance partner of Air India.

“These orders will also apply to officials in autonomous bodies funded by the government of India,” it added.

The ministry said that if there is deviation from these orders because of operational or other reason or on account of non-availability, individual cases may be referred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for relaxation.

The National Aviation Company of India Ltd, which runs flag carrier Air India, is expected to register a loss of about Rs 5,000 crore during 2008-09 fiscal, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had informed the Rajya Sabha recently.