THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air India management and employees together will overcome various hurdles confronting the organisation, including hefty losses, and will eventually regain its past glory, Union Civil Aviation and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said here on Friday. Even as the AI is in deep financial crisis, the national carrier attracts immense goodwill from all over and demands for new flight connections are coming up from wherever Indians are living in the globe, he said. Unveiling the Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility of Air India at Chackai here on Friday, amid the boycott of the function by the Opposition LDF and others, the Union Minister said that Air India was reeling under losses to the tune of Rs 43,000 crore, out of which Rs 18,000 crore was added only in the past 2 to 3 years. ‘’Had it not been for the new fleet of 82 Boeing aircraft purchased in recent years, Air India would have been wound up by now,’’ he said. Ravi said that the hangar facility, the other one being in Mumbai, would give a big boost to the Air India Express operations. ‘’The base of Air India Express will be in Kerala. Already 22 AI Express services are being operated in the region,’’ he said. Ravi said that the MRO would open up hundreds of jobs. ‘’It is not those from Mumbai or other places who are going to work here. Qualified hands in aerospace and related fields from the state will be absorbed in the facility,’’ the Civil Aviation Minister said. Speaking on the occasion, local MP Shashi Tharoor said that the MRO was a noted venture by all means in the state and for the capital city. ‘’Aircraft maintenance facilities in the country are available only in Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad. The hangar facility established here will open up avenues to tap the potential of the huge repair market for aircraft, which has a projected growth rate of 15 per cent in India whereas it is only 8 per cent globally,’’ he said. ‘’The facility here with 10,000 sq.ft apron space and a 5,000 sq.ft measuring office is eco- friendly and based on Green Technology,’’ he noted. Ports and Excise Minister K Babu said the acquisition of land for development projects of the airport was a big task, as proposals for a panel taxi track and air traffic control tower are being considered. ‘’It is unfortunate that all are not present here for this function,’’ he said, referring to the boycott of the function by the Opposition parties. Mayor K Chandrika had kept away from the function as leaders, including Opposition Leader V S Achuthandan and former Minister M Vijayakumar, who was instrumental in the development of the airport, were not included in the list of invitees. K M Unni, director, Engineering, Air India, welcomed the gathering and Jagannath, chief engineer, AI Express, proposed a vote of thanks.
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