More funds sought for ailing Air India

On the recent sacking of AI Express COO Pawan Arora and Air India''s HR Policy, Ravi said, "It is serious business...

The (AI) Board is there, its decisions are there. There areindependent directors (on the Board). They are eminent peopleand if they advise me to do something, I will do it."

The Minister said he would hold meetings with leaders ofall trade unions in Air India in Mumbai tomorrow to seek theircooperation to turnaround the carrier. The airline has 32,000employees on its rolls and another 10,000 on contract.

Himself a trade union leader, Ravi will camp in Mumbai fortwo days and hold discussions with the management on thefeedback he gets from the unions.

"The basic aim will be to know their mind on the issuesand to what extent they can cooperate to take Air Indiaforward," Ravi said, acknowledging that the employees "mayhave grievances".