The Tata Group has ventured out at Air India by presenting “enhanced meal service” in four flights that will operate from Mumbai on Thursday, officials said on Wednesday.
In any case, Air India flights won’t be flying under the flag of the Tata Group from Thursday itself, they stated.
Earlier during the day, the officials had told news organization PTI the Indian government is probably going to give up Air India to the Tata Group on Thursday, almost 69 years after it was taken from the conglomerate.
Be that as it may, while the “enhanced meal service” will be provided on four flights — AI864 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI687 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI945 (Mumbai-Abu Dhabi) and AI639 (Mumbai-Bengaluru) — on Thursday, the takeover will take place later, the officials clarified.
After a competitive bidding process, the government had on October 8 last year offered Air India to Palace Private Limited – – an auxiliary of the Tata Group’s holding organization – – for ₹ 18,000 crore.
The officials said the new date from which all Air India flights will fly under “Tata Group’s banner or aegis” will be told to the employees later.
The “upgraded supper administration” will be served on the Mumbai-Newark flight and five Mumbai-Delhi trips on Friday, they noted.
The “enhanced meal service” – – contrived by the Tata Group authorities – – will be extended to more trips in an amazed and staged way, the authorities added.
In the meantime, two airplane pilot unions – – Indian Pilots’ Guild (IPG) and Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) – – on Monday warned Air India’s CMD Vikram Dev Dutt of legal action as “multiple deductions and recoveries have been projected” on the dues owed to pilots.
“This recovery exercise is entirely illegal, and we demand that this anomaly is rectified and the amount due is repaid with immediate effect,” a letter sent by the two unions said.
Moreover, two different associations have gone against the transporter’s January 20 request to check to prepare4 and measure the weight record (BMI) of lodge team individuals at the air terminals not long before their flights.
These associations – – Air India Employees’ Union (AIEU) and All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) – – on Monday wrote to Mr. Dutt opposing the order on the grounds that it is dehumanizing and in violation of rules prescribed by aviation regulator the DGCA.
“BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. A high BMI can indicate high body fatness,” stated the website of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Three days after Air India’s deal was announced on October 8 last year, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was given to the Tata Group confirming the government’s willingness to sell its 100 percent stake in the airline. On October 25, the Centre signed the share purchase agreement (SPA) for this deal.
Officials said every one of the formalities for handover is near completion.
As a part of the deal, the Tata group will also be given over Air India Express and a 50 percent stake in ground dealing with arms Air India SATS.
Tatas had on October 8 beat the ₹ 15,100-crore offer by a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of ₹ 12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100 percent stake in the loss-making carrier.
