The Hindu Business Line : Air India `Yatrik' earns, but pilots stir costs dear

THE decision of Air India (AI) to launch `Yatrik', its online booking facility, seems to be paying dividends for the airline. The airline earned revenues of about Rs 4.5. crore from online booking during 2002-03.

The online booking facility, which was launched on January 1, 2002, was extended to the US in July and to all online points abroad from August this year. At the end of March this year, it had 46 online, 41 offline and seven sales representative offices.

However, while the decision to provide online booking facility helped the airline generate revenue, AI suffered an estimated financial loss of Rs 3.7 crore due to the agitation of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) during April-May this year. The agitation led AI to cancel 152 flights. The airlines annual report for 2002-03, which was laid in Parliament, states that the estimated financial loss of Rs 3.7 crore is net of the savings in the cost of operations.

While initially, the management suspended 46 members of the IPG, it later revoked the suspension on the direction of the Mumbai High Court.

In addition, `Flying Returns', a joint frequent flyer programme between AI and Indian Airlines (IA), helped the airline earn revenues of about Rs 2.1 crore.

The annual statement points out that Flying Returns helps the airline earn revenue from its long-term alliances as well as short-term promotions.

The ground handling services, which the airline provides at various airports in the country also helped generate Rs 341 crore during 2002-03.

During the year under review, AI provided ground handling services to 23 foreign airlines in Mumbai, 17 at Delhi and 12 at Chennai, among others.

Geography in a mess

AIR India might have helped the country win a bronze medal at the 14th Asian Games in Korea but it is unlikely to clear a basic general knowledge or geography test.

A glance at the `social obligations' carried out by the airline in its latest annual report will show why.

"Air India transported 15 horses from Delhi to Busan, Kenya via Bangkok and back, on behalf of the Equestrian Federation of India, and thus helped the national team win a bronze medal at the 14th Asian Games," the annual report states.

While AI should be patted on the back for keeping India's flag flying high at the Asian Games, its officials should also be given a lesson on which city is where especially as Busan is in Korea and not in Kenya.Besides, AI should be reminded that Kenya is part of Africa and not Asia so it is unlikely that the Asian Games will be held in Kenya.

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