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'Indian Airlines not selling assets to meet expenses'
Monday, 05 May 2003, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said Monday that state-run domestic carrier Indian Airlines had not sold any asset to meet expenses.
"Indian Airlines has not sold any assets to meet its day-to-day expenses," Hussain told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. "There is no proposal from Indian Airlines to sell its assets for meeting its day-to-day expenses."
He said the proposed sale of land at Chennai, which is owned by Indian Airlines and has remained unutilised for long, was aimed at disposing off a "non-performing asset" of the company.
"But this could not materlise since no financial bids were received against the tender issued for the purpose," Hussain said.
The minister said most of the losses of India Airlines could be attributed to rise in the cost of inputs like aviation turbine fuel (ATF), insurance, landing and navigational charges that are beyond the control of the airline.
The price of ATF has come down marginally from an all time high of 
25,000 per kilolitre in March, 2003 to 24,200 per kilolitre in April, 2003.
"These losses are further aggravated due to its operations on commercially unviable routes in order to discharge its social obligations as a public sector undertaking," Hussain said.
"This not only adds to the losses, but also prevents Indian Airlines from deploying its capacity on the more profitable trunk routes."
However, Indian Airlines has been taking steps to improve its business performance and to bring about "qualitative and quantitative improvements" in its customer related services, the minister said.
Source: IANS
25,000 per kilolitre in March, 2003 to 24,200 per kilolitre in April, 2003.
"These losses are further aggravated due to its operations on commercially unviable routes in order to discharge its social obligations as a public sector undertaking," Hussain said.
"This not only adds to the losses, but also prevents Indian Airlines from deploying its capacity on the more profitable trunk routes."
However, Indian Airlines has been taking steps to improve its business performance and to bring about "qualitative and quantitative improvements" in its customer related services, the minister said.
Source: IANS