Private airlines owe lakhs to AAI

New Delhi, Mar 7: As many as 91 pilots and 97 technical personnel of Alliance Air have resigned since January 2004, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said there were 25 commanders, including 7 expatriate pilots and 38 co-poliots available with Alliance Air as on February 28.

He said their wages and perks had been revised and career progression planned to retain the experieneced persons in the Airline.

However, the efforts had not been very fruitful as pilots often get attracted to better pay and perks offered by other airlines.

DUES : Replying to another question, the Minister said Jet Airways owed RS 2120.20 lakh to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as on January 15 while Sahara Airlines owed Rs 746.94 lakh.

The other airlines which owed money to the AAI are : Air Deccan (1584.23 lakh), Spicejet (Rs 94.88 Lakh), East West Airlines (Rs 1622 lakh), NEPC Airlines (Rs 354.98 lakh), Skyline NEPC (Rs 166.10 lakh), Archana Airways (Rs 39.62 lakh), Mesco Airlines (Rs 306.23 lakh), Elbee Air (Rs 102.96 lakh), VIF Airways (Rs 24.79 lakh), Continental Aviation (Rs 184 lakh), Jagson Airlines (Rs 131.26 lakh) and Kingfisher (347.38 lakh).

UNI