AI fleet expansion plan may get grounded

The consultative committee of MPs on aviation expressed concerns at the poor utilization of the aircrafts, distorted ratio of aircrafts and crews

sweta-ranjan

Sweta Ranjan | July 22, 2011



The Air India’s much talked about plan for the fleet expansion may not be able to see the light of the day. Blame it on the management of the national carrier which has failed to utilize the number of aircrafts and the crew it owns currently to the maximum.

A senior official of Air India confirms the news that the panel is considering the plan to add 135 planes to make a total fleet of 245 over 10 years and make the airline viable by 2019. A fund infusion of Rs 43,255 crore over 10 years is also needed to attain this viability.

Sources reveal that the consultative committee of MPs on aviation in its meeting on Tuesday also had raised doubts over some of the chapters of turnaround plan. They also expressed concerns at the poor utilization of the aircrafts, distorted ratio of aircrafts and crews.

The 27 Dreamliners dream of the aviation ministry is also being objected by some members of the panel as the cash strapped national carrier is sick and debt-ridden. The ministry is mulling over even cancelling the deal of the Dreamliners if the situation does not turn favourable for the ailing Maharaja.

27 Dreamliners were a part of a deal of value Rs 50,000 crore for 111 new planes during UPA-1. AI which demanded for a compensation of $840 million for a two-year delay in delivery of the Dreamliners is sadly thinking over all possible ways not the undertake the delivery of the aircraft (the first plan is expected to be delivered in October this year).

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