When Praful Patel was the minister in Tourism department news had come that he gave all profit making routes to Private Air Lines especially Jet air ways and all loss making routes were given to Air India , here Rakshak is Bhakshak so he is the person for down fall of AI. It is surprising out of 543 MPs no one questioned Praful Patel he needs to be punished for putting Govt air line in Red. Everyone can understand why he did this.
The article was thought provoking.....but did not point to any specific facts....( perhaps the author was trying to cover his backside..!) Following could be termed as the specific cause of Air India's fall from grace.. 1. AI was always treated as the Minister's personal fiefdom..( he can always grant any number of Free tickets to his relations and cronies....while going abroad..!!.The Airline also provided FREE Boarding and Lodging in India and abroad...since it used to operate Star Hotels also.... 2. Reservation ; Once upon a time the Air India staff were courtesy personified...but with Reservation - came the ' less eligible ' category of staff...who came in through any thing except merit....and who had political muscle.....these people made their presence in the aircraft...a traveler's nightmare...!! ( with their less pleasant looks and least efficient service...!!!...) 3. Total apathy to paying traveler's problems and this alienated the general traveler from AI...( I have stopped travelling AI since 1986 4. once upon a time the food was Air India's trump card....but post 1980s it was a traveler's nightmare..!!. All told it looked as if...Air India was being deliberately sabotaged from inside....so that other private airlines and foreign airlines could extinguish our National Airline.!!..from flying internationally....!!...
Re: THE DESCENT OF AIR INDIA...!!!!...
by parshuram gautampurkar on Oct 16, 2013 06:51 PM
In addition to what Mr.Bhatta has specified in the points from l to 4, I may add - AI staff union also contributed a lot in worsening the things to absolutely irreparable. I also endorse fully Mr.Bnhatta`s views at point number -2.It`s not only AI but in other departments/instt./organisation also situation is almost the same. But I am sure after next general elections 2014, if any new party wins and takes over at Center, this very issue will also come up and a judicial inquiry shall be ordered by the new PM . Parshuram Gautampurkar,Sawai Madhopur
Re: Re: THE DESCENT OF AIR INDIA...!!!!...
by Venu Gopal on Oct 19, 2013 11:30 AM
Most important question above the all is "Why should Indian government manage a airlines. Duty of the governments is to frame policies and monitor the system. Governments are not meant to do business.
Air India's downfall is private airlines' bonanza. Lucrative slots were awarded to private airlines in India and in international routes. Lot of money must hv gone into ruling politicians pockets in this act. Ruling party's people treat AI as something which can b used for taking a free ride. Employees of the airline also don't make serious efforts for its proper operation and maintenance
Re: Air India's downfall is private airlines' bonanza
by Unnikrishnan KP on Oct 16, 2013 10:16 AM
You are absolutely right.. I remember reading "Maharaja" (the earlier brand name of Air India) was awarded as best airline (very long back).. the politicians and the bureaucrats and the management of AI intentionally made operational deficiencies including delaying the flights which has made regualr cancellation of tickets by passengers.. this helped them showing non-profitable for actually profitable sectors and AI even cancelled operations of certain otherwise profitable sectors leaving those sectors for private airliens (espeically Emirates in international). Earlier, only Air India used to fly direct flight Mumbai Dar Es Salam (Tanzania) Now Air India completely stopped this route few years back and long waiting for tickets in Emirates via Dubai... Our politicians and the govt. machinery systematically ensure fall of AI....
The mostimportant culprit is the EMPLOYEE UNIONS who were all along making unreasonable demands. Look at Jet Airways tc. making good profits on domestc and international routes. They have a bunch ofdiscipline employees.
For that matter, most of our PSUs are white elephants and are capable of surviving on monopolistic situation only. working of IOC/hpcl/BPCL/ongc/gail ARE TO BE SCRUTINIZED in the interest of indian public
Re: air india
by Joy Kutty on Oct 16, 2013 10:23 AM
Look at the corporate offices of any of these PSUs. it looks more luxrier than than any five star hotels and the facilities available in the office. this is criminal waste of tax payers money
When they were the only international flight in India and was thriving on monopoly there u sed to be constant strikes for more and more wages by the employees. This killed the golden goose which was laying golden eggs.Now its survival is possible only by privatisation.Govt. should not waste public money.
A typical malice and illness that any business entity which government takes over--- Miss-management, unaccountability,corruption. It is similar to what becomes the condition of the lady of the evening that it is for everybody's use but nobody's responsibility, no one cares for her health.
ALL PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKINGS HAVE TO GO IN THE SAME DIRECTION LIKE AI. AS LONG AS MONOPOLY IS THERE, THEY CAN SURVIVE. THE NOMINATED MANAGEMENT DOES NOT HAVE PROPER BUSINESS ACUMEN, NEITHER A LONG TIME PERSPECTIVE NOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR DECISION MAKING. ADDED TO THE ABOVE, ON THE REMOTE GUIDANCE STRONG PRIVATE LOBBY, THE BEAUROCRATS' ACTIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUSPECT,
BY ALL GREEDY STAFF,MANAGEMENT,& ALL PARTY Politician's MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING FOR SELFISHNESS,SO MANY MD,MANAGERS ARRESTED,FOUND CRORES IN THERE HOUSE NO ACTION DEU TO CURROPTION.The CREW CAUGHT FOR SMUGGLING ,NO ACTION,THOUSENDS OF CASES KILLED AI- GOPAL
