The Hindu : National : ``Air India follows proper procedures for filling up positions''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 03, 2006

National

National

``Air India follows proper procedures for filling up positions''

S. Venkat, General Manager, Public Relations, Air India, Mumbai, writes:

This has reference to the article ( The Hindu , May 2) titled ``Air India violated norms, says Raut.'' In this connection, we wish to clarify that Air India is following the proper procedures for filling up the positions at the Executive Director level. The Board is the Competent Authority for upgrading and downgrading any position depending on the organisational needs.

Air India is in an expansion phase and is in the process of inducting 68 aircraft in the next four years. It is, therefore, necessary to man the various strategic/critical positions in the organisational hierarchy so that the induction of the aircraft is done in a smooth manner.

The posts proposed to be filled in are the vacancies caused as a result of promotions, retirements, etc., and are within the standard force and sanctioned strength of the posts of Executive Directors. No new positions have been created in this exercise.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation was informed in December about the procedure Air India intends to follow and the Ministry had given approval provided no new posts are created and the extant procedures followed. The post of Director-Training referred to in your article is essential and critical to the organisational set-up especially in the context of Air India's adherence to quality standards and regulatory requirements. Such a post exists in any airline for that matter.

The 19 candidates who were shortlisted in the zone of consideration for the generic/ non-generic posts would be considered as per their seniority and merit under the system of corporate cadres which has been approved in Air India.

No deviation has been followed in the procedures which existed till date. Air India has followed at every stage austerity measures in the curtailment of staff wherever required in non-operational areas.

The manpower strength has decreased from 18,500 with 28 aircraft in 2001 to 15,500 with 42 aircraft as of today.

A number of measures including closing of uneconomic offices, abolition of posts at various stations, voluntary retirement scheme, reduction of retirement age from 60 to 58 years, abolition of posts in non-operational areas and freezing up of certain vacancies have been put in place over the years in order to reduce the manpower strength.

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