AI, Indain merger for better long-term future: Praful Patel

Mumbai, June 27 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel today said the merger of Air India and Indian has been implemented after giving a long thought and for a better future in the long-term.

Speaking at a function after flagging off the first dedicated freight aircraft here, Mr Patel said the merger would also benefit employees of both the organisations.

''Employees will have to pull up the socks against the backdrop of merger and global competition,'' the minister said.

Air India should be much preferred carrier in the country, he added. He said non-stop flights to the US would start from August.

He expressed satisfaction over the launching of first freight aircraft and said Nagpur would soon become a national cargo hub.

''Cargo is important for India but it needs logistic support and infrastructure and cargo is high on agenda,'' he said.

The first converted aircraft (passenger to cargo A310) deployed on the Europe route (Mumbai, Bangalore, Damam, Frankfurt, Daman, Mumbai) has begun operations from today. The Freight A310 will make four trips in a week via Bangalore and Chennai to Frankfurt and Paris.

In all, two A310 passenger aircrafts have so far been converted into freighters for dedicated cargo operations and the minister in his speech hoped that in a country like India there should be 500 cargo aircraft.

The conversion of A310s into freighters was undertaken by global leaders in military transport and freighter aircraft, European aeronautic defence and space company. The cost of conversion of each aircraft is seven million nine hundred fifty thousand dollars.

Air India's current market share in the export segment is in the range of 9-11 per cent and 5-7 per cent in the import segment.

Mr Patel said vision 2020 is set for the creation of more infrastructure even through private resources.

Later in a brief interaction with the reporters, Mr Patel said the concept of regional airlines is under consideration so that small players are able to operate in specific areas.

UNI