I have been keeping update on the AirIndia (Maharaja) drama lately. This drama also includes airlines like Jet and Kingfisher and starts from the time when Jet was about to lay off employees due to effects of the ongoing recession.
Political parties scrambled left and right to garner political mileage pretending to support those laid-off employees by demonstrating and destroying public properties already vandalized and aging. Jet boss was made to apologize and take them back though am not sure how were they utilized in the company later on.
Coming to the point of AirIndia, as every reader would know AI is ailing and bleeding heavily. It is on ventilators now; thanks to the large taxpayers money been pumped into it. Few days back Civil aviation minister suggested trimming the behemoth and making it more efficient. Again our MP’s scowled at the idea of layoff ignoring the fact that global economy is under pressure and airlines throughout the world are cutting off to save some bucks. But due to inability of the government to convince so called supporters of the government AI is still under severe stress.
People still have the notion that the “National carrier” symbolizes the country and should not be allowed to lay off employees as other sectors are already bleeding. Statistics say there 46500 employees of AI for 147 aircrafts which means 330 per aircraft. Is this figure appropriate for an airline seeking to be global leader or for that matter even make profit? I still fail to understand why we have pride in the airline which is not even used by our own people. I still remember the way people react when you say you traveled by AI. I myself have not traveled but many whom I know tell me about the bad experiences of customer service. Do we want such a company to symbolize our country? I don’t.
The civil aviation minster is accused that he brought in more airlines on the routes where AI was making profits. Here I would I like to say why not thank the minister in making the skies more competitive as new airlines have brought down the cost. Why ignore the fact that “other/international” airlines are more efficient than AI is. Just to make a point ticket rates of an AI flight on its website are way higher than the traveling sites selling its tickets. Is it such a difficult task to develop a cost model and display it on your website? Go west and look at British Airways. It has one of the most efficient websites and no wonder has a major share of online tickets sold of its flights.
I feel AI should have a CEO from low cost carrier and let him trim down the huge airline and make it leaner. The better would be privatization but I guess people are more sympathetic to the “National carrier” to let is privatize. If either of these is not allowed then I do not see AI turning around. Worse the airline may sink deeper and take with it all the employment that it provides right now and that time protests and “bandhs” would no longer help. This is the solution some the previous public sector companies like Hindustan Machine Tools(HMT), IDPL and HEC. They were let to crumble and fade out in history. Is this the fate of Maharaja?????
It Is Time!!!!
I read Hillary Clinton’s statement about recognizing India as a Global superpower. It would not be wrong to say that it is time India decides which path to follow to be recognized as a developed nation and a global superpower; claim to be one already and poke at every other issue in the world or stay neutral and work its way up steadily. India can do what most other developed nation did earlier like self proclamation of been a giant and then meddling in all the affairs else follow the path that China did. Without making too much fuss about its growth China is still expanding at a rate not seen or predicted before in history. While one can argue that China was able to do this because of communist governance but still one cannot neglect the effort they put in. Some reasons I hear China stays low key about its achievements is because of the conservative culture of the people back there. This is where India needs to learn from China. Instead of remaining low key and pretending to be normally expanding economy India needs to market itself in a way which shows confidence at the same time avoids self proclamation of superiority in its actions or words. There is no reason to hide its growth which is sustained even in the current financial turmoil that’s sweeping countries across the globe.
An example of intermediate path here would be something not interfering in matters like the North Korea issue even if it has almost the all the nuclear armed nations scratching their heads upon it as its simply not our business but at the same time aiding the humanitarian cause in Srilanka after the LTTE war. That way instead of meddling in issues that hamper development, India would just create an image for itself: a nuclear armed country willing to lead South Asia with potential to be recognized as a Global superpower. That would be awesome. Wouldn’t it??
An example of intermediate path here would be something not interfering in matters like the North Korea issue even if it has almost the all the nuclear armed nations scratching their heads upon it as its simply not our business but at the same time aiding the humanitarian cause in Srilanka after the LTTE war. That way instead of meddling in issues that hamper development, India would just create an image for itself: a nuclear armed country willing to lead South Asia with potential to be recognized as a Global superpower. That would be awesome. Wouldn’t it??
Bienvenue
After almost 2 years I finally overcome laziness, busy schedules, and delays to come with my first post on my blog. I would be writing about Current Affairs, Sports, Movies and much more. I would blog about anything that passes my mind and might not be interesting all the time as you would find out over a period of time. At this point I am not really planning to write about friendship, teen pangs and other such stuff or for that matter I would definitely not write poems or invent quotes which are similar to ones previously quoted but just reframed. I would just be writing straight from my brain and as the name suggests after thinking laterally.
I am writing after a long time so please ignore syntax and semantic errors. I would often use technical terms which sound vague or fun but believe me that’s how we techies speak. Funny thing to note here is I have been using British English all my life but now due to relocation I have to use American English so at times my English would be a crossover. Please bear with me for my errors due to switch of accents and spellings.
I would really appreciate comments and responses. They can be critical, appreciative or just funny. I may not understand or follow them but atleast they would pursue me to keep blogging. Everyone likes bit of attention; my blog is no different. So read it and comment……….
I am writing after a long time so please ignore syntax and semantic errors. I would often use technical terms which sound vague or fun but believe me that’s how we techies speak. Funny thing to note here is I have been using British English all my life but now due to relocation I have to use American English so at times my English would be a crossover. Please bear with me for my errors due to switch of accents and spellings.
I would really appreciate comments and responses. They can be critical, appreciative or just funny. I may not understand or follow them but atleast they would pursue me to keep blogging. Everyone likes bit of attention; my blog is no different. So read it and comment……….
