Air India Privatisation Will Pose A Problem For Haj Subsidy Says Government Panel

A government-appointed committee has state that the privatisation of Air India will have serious consequences on Haj flights and suggested that the Minitries of Civil Aviation and Minority Affairs prepare their response in case the flag carrier gets privatised.

The committee, tasked with proposing the ‘Haj Policy 2018-22’, has also suggested that the Centre engage with the Saudi Arabia government and try to get the option of undertaking global tenders for Haj air charter operations.

The panel – convened by Union secretary Afzal Amanullah – who earlier served as the consul-general of India in Jeddah, has noted that during air charter operations the flights go with pilgrims but return empty. It would be appropriate for the two ministries to explore the possibility of using empty flights for commercial purposes to bring down the cost, it has said. The panel has also made suggestions on the food served on the planes.

The panel submitted its report to Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in Mumbai on Saturday. India has a Haj quota of 1.70 lakh pilgrims and besides air, the government is considering the option of also ferrying pilgrims via the sea from the next year.

“The privatisation of Air India, in case it happens, will have serious consequences on Haj air operations. The ministries and Haj Committee of India have to consider and plan how best to overcome the challenge that would arise in case of such an eventuality,” the panel said.

The committee, however, did not specify possible measures should the proposed privatisation of Air India goes through. The government has decided on strategic disinvestment of Air India and a group of ministers – headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley – is working out the modalities.

The committee has already many rounds of meetings. The government has also sought applications from investment bankers, law firms and other entities to act as advisers for the strategic stake sale of Air India. Airlines staff need to be formally trained about the behaviour and attitude expected of them in their dealings with the Haj pilgrims, the committee has said. PTI