New Delhi, July o4: Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has termed “unfortunate” the decision of a section of Air India employees to go on a two-hour strike even as the national carrier is trying to tide over the worst financial crisis in its history.
The Minister feels that any kind of agitation by the employees would create a “wrong impression” among the travelling public and people would shun flying Air India.
“Employees should understand this and do their best for the carrier to turn around. We will support their initiative,” he told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also expressed concern over the mounting losses of Air India, cumulatively estimated to be about Rs. 5,000 to 6,000 crore since the past year. While reiterating the government’s support to the national carrier, he has asked Air India to come out with a comprehensive business and financial restructuring plan over the next one month.
While asking Air India to shape up on the basis of the needs of the customer, Mr. Patel was hopeful that the airline can turn around in a year or two as it had great potential.
The Minister also hinted at a new low-cost business model for Air India as there was larger space for it in today’s competitive environment.
Defending the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, he said it was well thought of and not done in haste. The merger, he pointed out, was done with the collective wisdom of the government, consultation with employees and without the loss of a single job.
Hit by the global economic slowdown, the aviation sector could hope for revival in the next year or so. The Ministry was looking at the entire sector in totality — the ability of a larger section of the people to fly, the country’s economic interest, connectivity and the tourism potential.
Mr. Patel felt that airport infrastructure projects would not suffer because of the economic meltdown. He indicated the introduction of a development fee in the Chennai and Kolkata airports, which are being modernised and restructured.
–Agencies