The Hindu : Cabin crew on contract for AI Charters Ltd.?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 27, 2003

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Cabin crew on contract for AI Charters Ltd.?

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI JULY 26. The Government is learnt to have asked the human resource department of Air India to examine the entire issue of contract-based employment of cabin crew for Air India Charters Limited.

Even as Air India Charters Limited goes ahead with the interviews here on Monday for selecting cabin crew, informed sources said the Government's move for a re-look at contractual employment would not affect the recruitment drive. Interviews for cabin crew have already been held at Kochi and are to be held soon at Chennai.

The average number of cabin crew recruited by Air India during the past decade has been between 300 and 400. Permanent employment means that only that many families can get the benefit of exposure of a family member to the globalised world through flying. Recruitment on contractual basis would enable at least 400-500 families to get exposure every three years. Once known for its inflight services, India's international flag carrier lost its advantage as market conditions changed and foreign airlines offered stiff competition.

According to sources, Air India seems to have been guided by the fact that having crew based in various cities makes sense while saving on the cost for accommodation. It would also help optimise use of cabin crew. For example, cabin crew hired in Kochi could operate on the Kochi-Dubai-Kochi, Kochi-Abu Dhabi-Kochi and other Gulf sectors on a quick turnaround basis. The airline would save on hotel accommodation and transport at either end.

Air India currently uses 590 rooms a week in Kerala. Even if taken at an average room rent of only Rs. 1,500 a day, the cost would be Rs. 8 lakhs a week or over Rs. 4 crores annually for hotel accommodation in Kerala alone.

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