To put an end to the constant bickering over routes between Air-India and Indian Airlines, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to ensure that both the airlines will not fly to the same countries.‘‘We hope to complete route rationalization in a month’s time,’’ said Secretary, Civil Aviation K. Roy Paul. Basically it’s the Gulf and Southeast Asian countries which have been the bone of contention between the two airlines, creating vicious competition between them. ‘‘The idea is that both airlines should not be flying on the same routes. The Gulf sector can be sorted out straight away,’’ he added.The ministry is, however, under no illusion that route rationalisation will be an easy task. Officials said that they were expecting opposition from both the airlines. To preempt trouble, the ministry had also invited bids to hire Consultants to prepare a blueprint for the operational integration of both government owned airlines.Roy Paul said that there had been no professional review of both the airlines for a long time. The consultants will identify the strengths and weaknesses of both, A-I and IA and prepare a business plan to revamp and strengthen the airlines within a time frame of 15 years.‘‘The main task of the consultants is to work out the operational integration and synergy between the two airlines. The purpose is to bring them at par with the best airlines of the world,’’ said Civil Aviation secretary. The government consultants will recommend detailed steps required for operational integration keeping in view the existing bilateral agreements, profitable and unprofitable domestic routes, hub & spoke requirements and optimum utilisation of the existing fleet of both the airlines.After a detailed analysis, they will also suggest what departments — engineering or baggage handling — have to be hived off, and optimal utilisation of manpower.Another task earmarked for the consultants is to conduct benchmarking analysis for both A-I and IA in various areas of performance as compared to foreign airlines like Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Qantas. They will also identify measures taken in these airlines resulting in improvement in airline performance and efficiencies and their application to A-I and IA keeping in view the Indian policy and statutory framework and existing labour practices. Roy Paul added that appointing consultants and route rationalization was not a build up to disinvestment. Ministry officials said that disinvestment was yet a couple of years away since the aviation industry, the world over, would take some time to revive.
