Putting its foot down, Air India has informed Parliament Secretariat that it can no longer entertain requests from MPs to upgrade seats on flights or allow extra baggage on board. The official air carrier, which received repeated requests from parliamentary committees to arrange aircraft with maximum executive class seats for their travel, has said MPs cannot be provided business class seats in sectors which are served by aircraft with only economy class seats. In a letter dated October 24 to Lok Sabha Secretary General P K Grover, Air India Chairman andg Managin Director Rohit Nandan said: “Air India receives several requests for change of aircraft to accommodate Hon’ble Parliament Committee in Business Class during Parliamentary Committee visits to various parts of the country and also to relax baggage limitations.” According to Nandan, the Air India fleet consists of Airbus 319, 320 and 321 which have only 8, 2 and 20 business class seats respectively. “Tickets are booked by passengers well in advance and, hence, there might be no Business Class seats available at the time of the tours of the Parliamentary Committees. This leads to a piquant situation and Airlines has to regret to the Hon’ble MPs regarding availability of Business Class seats.” “To maximise revenue, Air India had decided to convert a number of its narrow body aircraft which are operating in the domestic circuit to all Economy seats configuration. Therefore, it is not possible to accommodate Hon’ble MPs in Business Class in those sectors which are served by all economy configuration aircraft. With regard to request for allowing extra baggage, it is reiterated that as per existing policy no extra baggage is allowed.” There are 16 department-related standing committees of Lok Sabha and eight of Rajya Sabha besides several other committees.
