The Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought Rs 2,000 crore for the national carrier Air India from the Finance Ministry in Budget 2011-12.

“The Government has put aside another Rs 1,200 crore for the carrier for the next fiscal, but we will ask for Rs 2,000 crore,” a senior Ministry official told newspersons on the sidelines of a conference on regional civil aviation security.

The issue of Government funding for the state-owned airline and other issues are likely to figure at the pre-budget meeting between the Ministers for Civil Aviation, Mr Vayalar Ravi, and the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

Air India has received an equity infusion of Rs 2,000 crore from the Government in calendar 2010. This includes Rs 800 crore given to the national carrier in the last fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 and Rs 1,200 crore infusion approved by the Government during the current fiscal.

Commenting on the turnaround plan of Air India, Mr Ravi said the plans are still on track and there have been no changes after Air India Express Chief Operating Officer, Mr Pawan Arora's exit. He said that Mr Arora was not part of the turnaround plan group and said that one person's exit will not be a problem for Air India.

Later this month, the Minister will also have a meeting with leaders of Air India's labour unions to seek their support for the turnaround of the carrier.

“I will meet the trade union leaders and seek their cooperation. The basic aim will be to know their mind on the issues and to what extent they can cooperate to take Air India forward,” said Mr Ravi.

Air India has 32,000 employees on its rolls and another 10,000 on contract.

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