Air-India On Wings Of Optimism

Charmaine Fernz - Mumbai

After having passed through turbulent weather in the past year, Air-India is taking on 2004 with a lot of optimism. Reveals V Thulasidas, chairman and managing director, Air-India, "The national carrier has come a long way from its inception. In the past year, it is due sustained efforts that we have recorded considerable profits and our projections for the year is positive. I am all for growth of the national carrier as it is a demand from the market. But we have to look at a more cost-effective way of improving our revenues. Plans include fleet acquisition on dry lease as well as to expand of capacities." With the partial opening up of the skies, global competition is inevitable. Thulasidas explains, "We are aware that we do not operate enough flights and lack in considerable seat capacities but that is being worked upon at the moment. Our main area of concentration in the coming year would be the West Coast, as there has been a quantum leap in services from India to the US. In that regard, as this sector is high priority, we will include more destination to the US and Canada. Air-India is also keen to fly to Los Angeles, San Francisco and South Africa, but are awaiting approvals for the same. The other increase in routes will be to London and Europe. There will be an increase of one flight on the Nairobi and Dar-es-Salam route."

With ‘No Frills’ carriers catching on with the industry, Air-India at one point was looking at starting a similar carrier of their own. Clarifying this stand, Thulasidas says, "There was a proposal to start a No Frills carrier but this proposal is still being considered by the Board of directors who have yet to pass a decision."