NEW DELHI: Air India and Air India Express had cancelled 147 flights for six days due to fuel shortage resulting in a loss of around Rs 10 crore to the cash-strapped airlines, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said, "Air India and Air India Express had to cancel 147 of its flights between May 27 and June 2, 2011 due to shortage of fuel."
In a written reply, he said the losses suffered by Air India due to shortage of fuel amounted to around Rs 10 crore.
The Minister said Air India and its subsidiaries owe an amount of Rs 2300 crore to public sector oil companies.
In response to a question whether some airports have also been served notice to pay all the dues by a certain date, the Minister said, "No".
Replying to a separate question, the minister said DGCA has been directed to consider grant of Foreign Air-crew Temporary Authorization policy up to December 31, 2013 on a case-to-case basis.
"Guidelines have been issued by the DGCA to airlines to adopt effective training programes for their Indian co-pilots for upgradation to Pilot-in-Command positions in order to gradually phase out expatriate pilots and in the process creating opportunities for Indian pilots," he said.
In reply to another question, the Minister also informed that Air India has closed its offices in 13 locations -- Mauritius, Lusaka, Dar-es-salam, Lagos, Nairobi, Montreal, San Francisco, Houston, Vancouver, Birmingham, Auckland, Copenhagen and Brussels -- and expects to save Rs 5.28 crore from the step.
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