Air India faces more unreasonable demands by politicians

Everyone in India knows the chair of leading beleaguered national carrier, Air India, is only a bed of thorns. With a complete lack of genuine autonomy the carrier is prey to every politician's whims and fancies.

On a day when one newspaper reported that Air India has hired three consultants to help with their cost cutting goals, another newspaper reports on the unreasonable demands of politicians.

BJP Member of Parliament and Vadodara Mayor Balkrishna Shukla on Sunday demanded that Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel should resume flights to Delhi and Mumbai from the city, which have been suspended.

“If the private players can operate on both these routes, what prevents the Air India management to do so on such lucrative and profitable routes?” asked Shukla.

Someone needs to ask the Honourable Mayor what irritates him when flying the private carriers? Would it the lack of free upgrades? or would it be that the private airlines will not put up with any unreasonable demands?

The mayor also opposes the move of the airline to move its office from its current downtown and obviously expensive location.

He also demanded retaining the Air India office premises located at Fatehgunj in the city from where Air India has been functioning since 1970. “It is most convenient for everybody to visit this office,” he added.

When was the last time the mayor visited the Air India office for his travel related business? When was the last time YOU visited an airline office?

Till Air India is granted genuine autonomy and freedom from politicians, its travails shall continue, and the tax payers of India will continue footing the bill.