Travel by A-I only, govt tells its employees

In a move that could give some comfort to the cash-strapped national carrier, the government has directed its employees to use only Air India (A-I) during their official domestic and foreign tours.

The government also made it clear that this would be applicable to the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) of officials, including those belonging to the public sector undertakings.

"It has been decided by the Department of Expenditure 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," an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel said.

The ministry said it had consulted with the Department of Expenditure on the purview of the order with regard to LTC.

"....Department of Expenditure has confirmed that the order will apply in cases of LTC also," it said. For travel to places not connected by the national carrier, the order said, the officials could travel by Air India to the point closest to that destination.