On-time flights key priority: Air India chief

Copenhagen (Denmark): Focus on on-time performance (OTP) and ensuring courteous behaviour towards passengers by Air India cabin crew and ground staff tops the priority of newly-appointed Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal. Speaking to this newspaper in a candid conversation on-board the airline’s inaugural flight to Denmark’s capital Copenhagen, Mr Bansal also said it was “no secret” that the airline’s employees are concerned about their jobs in view of the government’s move to disinvest some stake in the national carrier. But the CMD hoped that even in the event of privatisation, the government would follow the same model that was followed about a decade ago when the operation and management of Delhi and Mumbai airports was privatised without any job losses.

It may be recalled that the government is considering to what extent it should carry out disinvestment in the national carrier and whether it should sell majority stake to a private entity.

“I am personally monito-ring the OTP of 25 domestic flights on metro routes and about five international long-haul flights that leave early in the morning. This sets the tone for the rest of the day,” Mr Bansal told this newspaper. He also said those crew, including pilots, fou-nd responsible for delaying flights will face the music and that action initiated will include grounding of these personnel.

The Air India CMD also said that he is aiming for an OTP percentage of at least 90 and that the OTP percentage has shown an increase of about five per cent recently from about 76 per cent to about 81 per cent. He said that he was also focusing on excellent customer service by airline crew towards passengers.

The CMD also said it was his job to run the airline “professionally and profitably” rather than worry about what the shareholder (the government) will do on disinvestment, addi-ng that he has already held talks with three unions regarding various issues. The Union government owns 100 per cent stake in national carrier Air India.