Tough stand needed for airlines’ successful turnaround: Patel

Secretary of civil aviation, Ashok Chawla and chairman and managing director of NACIL, Raghu Menon were present at on Saturday’s meeting. Another review meet is expected to be held within a fortnight.

Patel’s remarks come at a time when the load factors of Indian are falling sharply and have been the lowest among all domestic carriers this year. The combined airline’s mounting losses had prompted the minister to talk tough, saying that the airline would have to ‘perform or perish’ in a market where international competition was right at the doorstep.

Taking exception to the criticism, Air India’s unions had then hit back at the minister, accusing him of misbehaving on a New York-London flight. A war of words followed, with Patel writing an open letter to all Air Indians, saying, “We have seen public companies compete with private enterprises and have seen many successful PSUs emerging in spite of the competition. This sector, as you, know was opened up 15 years ago.”

On a more sarcastic note, the minister added, “But it seems you have heard only the two words ‘perform or perish’ of my total interview and have chosen to react. Well, my understanding of the English language may not be as perfect as that of some of the signatories to the letter, who probably come from an English speaking background, unlike mine.”