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Indian Airlines to induct ten more planes by January 2002: Yadav

Indian Airlines would have ten additional aircraft, including six 50-seater turboprops, in its fleet by January 2002, Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav said on Tuesday.

"Two widebodied aircraft have already been inducted. We have chosen the dry-lease route because of the divestment process, as we have to meet the demands of increasing passenger traffic and commercial viability," Yadav told PTI in an interview.

While the six turboprop planes of the French company, ATR, would be dry-leased by December 2001 or January 2002 to serve the feeder routes, especially in the northeast, two Airbus A-320s would be inducted in October and two more in December, he said.

"This is the middle-path we could find," Yadav said, adding that the decision to dry-lease the aircraft was taken by the civil aviation ministry keeping in mind the health of the national carrier.

"We do not want to have any slackness in operations of the airline and also not affect the divestment process".

To questions on the appointment of a full-fledged managing director for Air India, the minister said a decision was likely to be taken by this month-end and the proposal would be sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet immediately thereafter.

J N Gogoi, the deputy managing director, was appointed acting managing director of Air India after M P Mascarenhas was suspended on corruption charges on May 23.

Asked about the current status of bidding for privatisation of ground handling in international airports across the country, he said the process of granting security clearance to the shortlisted bidders was on.

"We will ensure that Airports Authority of India benefits out of this process," he said.

Yadav said the international airports, whose number had increased from five to 11 this year, should be made financially viable and more traffic attracted to these airports.

"We have to allow more airlines to fly to these newly created international airports like those in the information technology hotbeds of Bangalore and Hyderabad," he said.

While 100 per cent foreign direct investment has been allowed in privatisation of airports, "foreigners will invest only when they see their economic potential", he added.

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