Ensure world-class services: PM to AI, Indian

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August 2007

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Ensure world-class services: PM to AI, Indian

EAW Staff - Mumbai

With private airlines pushing Air India and Indian to the backseat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the national carriers to ensure world-class services as they start inducting new generation aircraft to face the growing competition.

"I want you to focus your attention on that. Our airports, our airlines and all related systems must be world class and must make every customer and client feel cared for," he said at a function recently to mark the launch of the new Air India fleet.

Singh said the government had taken decisive steps in a short period of one year for placing the largest procurement order of 111 aircraft for both Indian and Air India.

"This has been by far the largest procurement of aircraft by any airline in the country," he said, hoping that with these acquisitions, the national carriers would be better placed to take on competition at home and abroad, and regain their "lost elan."

He said the national carriers have so far been unable to take advantage of the opening of skies, primarily due to the shortage of aircraft. "The opening up of the skies has created new market opportunities for civil aviation business in India. However, our national carriers were unable to take full advantage of the opportunities at hand for a variety of reasons," he said.

Earlier, civil aviation minister Praful Patel sought Prime Minister's support for acquiring new aircraft for the national carriers, over and above the 111 planes which would mainly replace the existing fleet.

New fleet in place, Patel seeks 60 more planes

Praful Patel
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation

The civil aviation ministry is planning to submit a proposal to the Planning Commission to seek fresh approval for purchasing around 60 aircraft for National Aviation Company, the new merged entity of Indian and Air India. This new order will be over and above the US$ 10-billion order for 111 planes comprising 68 Boeing and 43 Airbus aircraft placed by the two companies in 2005-06.

Speaking at a function to inaugurate the new fleet of Air India (the brand name of the merged entity), civil aviation minister Praful Patel asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his support in the acquisition of new aircraft. "For future growth we will have to revisit the entire exercise (of acquiring new aircraft) within a few years and I urge the PM to look into this," he said.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Air India CMD V Thulasidas said, "In the next 2-3 years, we will replace all old aircraft with new ones. With the long-range Boeing 777s and 787s, we will soon have more non-stop flights to the US and other parts of the world." According to him, the new 60 aircraft would be of all sizes depending on demands from different segments.

"The new fleet has come at an opportune time when the market for air travel is rapidly expanding," the Prime Minister said, adding that Air-India should again regain the top slot as a leading global carrier. "And you have our support for that," he said.

From August 1, Air-India is starting non-stop flights to New York from Mumbai on the recently acquired Boeing 777-200s. Non-stop Delhi-New York operations are also likely to start by year-end.

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