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Shonky crew 'driving Air India bankrupt'
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keithr
May 18, 2012, 3:22:32 AM5/18/12
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India's aviation minister claims some staff have been costing Air India
millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks.
India's aviation minister claims some staff have been costing Air India
millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks. Photo: AFP
Theft, fraud and abuse of perks by pilots and crew has set India's
national carrier on course to bankruptcy, the aviation minister has
claimed, with staff caught stealing whisky and caviar, and being
chauffeured in limousines to five-star hotels.
In eight years Air India, known as the "Maharaja" for its turbaned
cartoon mascot, has fallen from profit to an estimated $A10 billion in
debt. In frustration, Ajit Singh, India's aviation minister, has said
the country does not need a national carrier.
Air India is investigating 161 cases of theft, fraud and abuse of perks,
Mr Singh told MPs on Wednesday.
One catering officer was caught stealing caviar worth around $500, while
a purser was discovered walking away with more than 370 spirit miniatures.
Air India's internal vigilance department found that one pilot had been
paid more than $A400,000 in allowances for simulator training while he
was off work on sick leave.
Generous staff benefits are said to have contributed to the airline's
losses. Investigators discovered pilots insisted on staying in five-star
hotels in New York, Chicago and Mumbai during stop-overs instead of
spending the night at cheaper airport hotels.
Meanwhile, serving and retired pilots and crew would take business class
seats ahead of paying customers. Investigators also found evidence of
expensive spare parts disappearing, duty-free alcohol stolen, and spare
seats and cargo space sold privately to rival airlines.
"It's been going on for years," said Dr Sannat Kaur, former joint
secretary of India's civil aviation ministry, and now chairman of the
International Foundation for Aviation. "There was leakage, but as long
as the company was in profit there was no issue."
But the abuses have steadily come into sharper focus as the airline's
problems have mounted. Ill-advised airliner purchases and a merger with
its domestic partner Indian Airlines compounded problems.
The disclosures were made as more than 350 Air India pilots escalated an
unofficial strike by calling in sick. The strike was called as part of a
squabble over which pilots should fly the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks.
India's aviation minister claims some staff have been costing Air India
millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks. Photo: AFP
Theft, fraud and abuse of perks by pilots and crew has set India's
national carrier on course to bankruptcy, the aviation minister has
claimed, with staff caught stealing whisky and caviar, and being
chauffeured in limousines to five-star hotels.
In eight years Air India, known as the "Maharaja" for its turbaned
cartoon mascot, has fallen from profit to an estimated $A10 billion in
debt. In frustration, Ajit Singh, India's aviation minister, has said
the country does not need a national carrier.
Air India is investigating 161 cases of theft, fraud and abuse of perks,
Mr Singh told MPs on Wednesday.
One catering officer was caught stealing caviar worth around $500, while
a purser was discovered walking away with more than 370 spirit miniatures.
Air India's internal vigilance department found that one pilot had been
paid more than $A400,000 in allowances for simulator training while he
was off work on sick leave.
Generous staff benefits are said to have contributed to the airline's
losses. Investigators discovered pilots insisted on staying in five-star
hotels in New York, Chicago and Mumbai during stop-overs instead of
spending the night at cheaper airport hotels.
Meanwhile, serving and retired pilots and crew would take business class
seats ahead of paying customers. Investigators also found evidence of
expensive spare parts disappearing, duty-free alcohol stolen, and spare
seats and cargo space sold privately to rival airlines.
"It's been going on for years," said Dr Sannat Kaur, former joint
secretary of India's civil aviation ministry, and now chairman of the
International Foundation for Aviation. "There was leakage, but as long
as the company was in profit there was no issue."
But the abuses have steadily come into sharper focus as the airline's
problems have mounted. Ill-advised airliner purchases and a merger with
its domestic partner Indian Airlines compounded problems.
The disclosures were made as more than 350 Air India pilots escalated an
unofficial strike by calling in sick. The strike was called as part of a
squabble over which pilots should fly the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Rob
May 18, 2012, 5:05:12 AM5/18/12
to
On 18/05/2012 5:22 PM, keithr wrote:
> India's aviation minister claims some staff have been costing Air India
> millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks.
>
> India's aviation minister claims some staff have been costing Air India
> millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks. Photo: AFP
>
> Theft, fraud and abuse of perks by pilots and crew has set India's
> national carrier on course to bankruptcy, the aviation minister has
> claimed, with staff caught stealing whisky and caviar, and being
> chauffeured in limousines to five-star hotels.
>
> In eight years Air India, known as the "Maharaja" for its turbaned
> cartoon mascot, has fallen from profit to an estimated $A10 billion in
> debt. In frustration, Ajit Singh, India's aviation minister, has said
> the country does not need a national carrier.
>
> Air India is investigating 161 cases of theft, fraud and abuse of perks,
> Mr Singh told MPs on Wednesday.
>
> One catering officer was caught stealing caviar worth around $500, while
> a purser was discovered walking away with more than 370 spirit miniatures.
>
> Air India's internal vigilance department found that one pilot had been
> paid more than $A400,000 in allowances for simulator training while he
> was off work on sick leave.
>
I'm looking for a job like that :)
> India's aviation minister claims some staff have been costing Air India
> millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks.
>
> India's aviation minister claims some staff have been costing Air India
> millions through theft, fraud and abuse of perks. Photo: AFP
>
> Theft, fraud and abuse of perks by pilots and crew has set India's
> national carrier on course to bankruptcy, the aviation minister has
> claimed, with staff caught stealing whisky and caviar, and being
> chauffeured in limousines to five-star hotels.
>
> In eight years Air India, known as the "Maharaja" for its turbaned
> cartoon mascot, has fallen from profit to an estimated $A10 billion in
> debt. In frustration, Ajit Singh, India's aviation minister, has said
> the country does not need a national carrier.
>
> Air India is investigating 161 cases of theft, fraud and abuse of perks,
> Mr Singh told MPs on Wednesday.
>
> One catering officer was caught stealing caviar worth around $500, while
> a purser was discovered walking away with more than 370 spirit miniatures.
>
> Air India's internal vigilance department found that one pilot had been
> paid more than $A400,000 in allowances for simulator training while he
> was off work on sick leave.
>
> Generous staff benefits are said to have contributed to the airline's
> losses. Investigators discovered pilots insisted on staying in five-star
> hotels in New York, Chicago and Mumbai during stop-overs instead of
> spending the night at cheaper airport hotels.
>
> Meanwhile, serving and retired pilots and crew would take business class
> seats ahead of paying customers. Investigators also found evidence of
> expensive spare parts disappearing, duty-free alcohol stolen, and spare
> seats and cargo space sold privately to rival airlines.
>
> "It's been going on for years," said Dr Sannat Kaur, former joint
> secretary of India's civil aviation ministry, and now chairman of the
> International Foundation for Aviation. "There was leakage, but as long
> as the company was in profit there was no issue."
>
> But the abuses have steadily come into sharper focus as the airline's
> problems have mounted. Ill-advised airliner purchases and a merger with
> its domestic partner Indian Airlines compounded problems.
>
now making a loss.
> The disclosures were made as more than 350 Air India pilots escalated an
> unofficial strike by calling in sick. The strike was called as part of a
> squabble over which pilots should fly the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Tudor5
May 24, 2012, 3:41:17 PM5/24/12
to
The food is dreadful , the aircraft putrid inside , tatty interior ,
Cabin crew who think the sun shines out of a certain spot,
mechanics and tech crew with shonky papers yeah and now the
curry munchers worry about the theft of stores.
Good to see where their priorities are . SHUDDER .
Aircrew EGO central ----------- horrible airline truly
HORRIBLE
AND HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES .
Marts
May 25, 2012, 3:10:46 AM5/25/12
to
keithr wrote...
> Meanwhile, serving and retired pilots and crew would take business class
> seats ahead of paying customers. Investigators also found evidence of
Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the Gold Card perk that Australian former politicians
get.
I wonder how many former Indian MPs avail themselves of a similar benefit...
> Meanwhile, serving and retired pilots and crew would take business class
> seats ahead of paying customers. Investigators also found evidence of
get.
I wonder how many former Indian MPs avail themselves of a similar benefit...
veritas
May 25, 2012, 5:06:18 AM5/25/12
to
On 25/05/2012 5:10 PM, Marts wrote:
> keithr wrote...
>
>> Meanwhile, serving and retired pilots and crew would take business class
>> seats ahead of paying customers.
It was that first class seats will be booked for pilots on company
> keithr wrote...
>
>> Meanwhile, serving and retired pilots and crew would take business class
>> seats ahead of paying customers.
service (TAA) thus unavailable for sale in the first instance. The
Company didn't want line pilots to appear to be 'second class'.
Maybe still the same - I dunno.
Rob
May 25, 2012, 8:14:59 AM5/25/12
to
Paul Saccani
May 25, 2012, 9:42:44 AM5/25/12
to
Forced nationalisation of the company. When it was operated by its
founder, the Indian aviation pioneer, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata,
it was pretty much second to none. The rot really set in after he was
removed from governance in the late seventies.
Merger with Indian Airlines, which was a very poorly managed carrier
which exacerbated the latent problems in Air India.
Cheers,
Paul Saccani,
Perth,
Western Australia
Tudor5
May 29, 2012, 11:37:26 AM5/29/12
to
On May 25, 9:42 pm, Paul Saccani <sacc...@pc.jaring.my> wrote:
Spot on Paul
situation reminds me of a certain bloke who Ran MH in the 90's :(
situation reminds me of a certain bloke who Ran MH in the 90's :(
D Walford
May 29, 2012, 9:09:36 PM5/29/12
to
Daryl
Paul Saccani
May 30, 2012, 10:08:49 PM5/30/12
to
On Wed, 30 May 2012 11:09:36 +1000, D Walford
<dwal...@internode.on.net> wrote:
>>> Two factors;
>>> Forced nationalisation of the company. When it was operated by its
>>> founder, the Indian aviation pioneer, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata,
>>> it was pretty much second to none. The rot really set in after he was
>>> removed from governance in the late seventies.
>
>
<dwal...@internode.on.net> wrote:
>>> Two factors;
>>> Forced nationalisation of the company. When it was operated by its
>>> founder, the Indian aviation pioneer, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata,
>>> it was pretty much second to none. The rot really set in after he was
>>> removed from governance in the late seventies.
>
>
>Did Tata switch from Aviation to motor vehicles?
The company expanded into aviation in the forties - Tata group
continues to include an automotive group, but they are quite a wide
ranging congromulate. One of their areas is in world leading luxury
hotels and serviced apartments, to indicate their diversity.
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