Judiciously allow staff to travel on jump seats: AI to pilots

AI had suspended its 3 crew members after they allegedly allowed a company's employee to sleep on the floor of a flight from the US

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Air India has directed all its pilots to "judiciously" use their discretion of allowing an airline staff on leave to travel on a jump seat of the aircraft, which are meant for the crew members to rest.

Citing a recent incident in which one of its employee was found sleeping in the aisle of business class on its New York- Delhi flight, AI Director (Operations) Arvind Kathpalia in the circular said that it has "severly tarnished" the image of the airline at the the time of its turnaround.

"This has been viewed very seriously by the airline Chairman and Managing Director (Ashwani Lohani)," the circular said, adding that all Pilots-in-Command (PICs) are instructed to be judicious in releasing jump seat to staff on leave, particularly on the long haul sectors.

"Jump seat must not be given to the aged, ailing and children, who are unlikely to take the strain of a long-haul flight," it said.

PICs have also been instructed to brief a jump seat passenger that the comfort and sensibility of the fellow passengers should not be "compromised" at any cost and no adverse comment be made for the airline.

The PIC is also to brief all cabin crew members to monitor any abnormal activity of the jump seat passenger and report it to (commander) him, it said.

Air India had suspended three of its crew members, including two airhostesses, after they allegedly allowed one of the company's employee to sleep on the floor of a flight from the US.

The incident took place last week when Air India flight AI-102 was on way to New Delhi from New York.