Neha Jain: http://indianairlinesnews.blogspot.com//1

1. AI chief operating officer loses job

MUMBAI: Australian national and Air India’s Chief Operating Officer Captain Gustav Baldauf, the person who was handpicked to turnaround the fortunes of the ailing national career by the Centre in 2010, on Monday put in his papers. This comes a few days after he was served a show-cause notice by the AI over his alleged remarks about political interference in the airline’s daily affairs.
“Baldauf resigned from his post this (Monday) morning,” a spokesperson of airlines told Express.
After his off-the-cuff remarks courted controversies, he had a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi to clarify his stand. But, the meeting did not yield any results and finally Gustav had to bow down. The Air India in its show-cause notice had asked him to explain his statement that the government played too prominent a role in Air India operations.
Baldauf had also expressed protest against the removal of Captain Pawan Arora as the COO of Air India Express, saying it would affect the turnaround plan of the ailing national carrier.
Baldauf was appointed at an annual salary package of `3 crore with a free hand to implement Air India’s turnaround plan. Gustav had earlier worked in Jet Airways and Austrian Airlines.

2. Air India to start daily direct flight to Melbourne from Delhi

NEW DELHI: After a delay of about 6 months, Air India will be launching its direct flights to Melbourne from here.

"The Civil Aviation Ministry has approved our request and granted Air India the traffic rights to operate seven services per week on Delhi-Melbourne sector," an Air India spokesperson said.

Melbourne would be the 34th international city on the list of Air India destinations.

The national carrier was to start Delhi-Melbourne daily direct flight from the winter schedule starting October last.

It has been a long-standing demand of the Indians, including many students studying and settled in Australia, the spokesperson said.

Air India is planning to add more international destinations to its operations and in Australia, it is eyeing Melbourne.

3. India Government To Inject INR12 Billion Into Air India Next Fiscal Year

MUMBAI -(Dow Jones)- India's government will inject INR12 billion as equity into loss-making national carrier Air India Ltd. in the next fiscal year that begins April 1, the federal budget showed Monday.

The infusion will widen the debt-ridden carrier's equity base and help shore up its finances. The Ministry of Civil Aviation early this month had said it will ask for budgetary support of INR20 billion for the next fiscal year. The government injected INR8 billion into the carrier last fiscal year and INR12 billion this year.

Air India has been wallowing in the red since 2007 due to an ill-managed merger with the erstwhile Indian Airlines, high salary costs and unprofitable flights. The carrier reported a net loss of INR55.51 billion last financial year and is likely to post losses for a few more years.

Air India has been speaking of efforts to turn itself around through more efficient operations, but has also sought more government funds.

The airline has total debt of about INR400 billion on its books, including INR220 billion of long-term loans taken mainly to finance aircraft purchases.

NEHA JAIN

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