(a) whether the Air India and Indian Airlines issue complimentary passes to their employees and other important people of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the number of such passes issued during each of the last three years by both the airlines separately alongwith the value of such passes?
MINISTER OF STATE(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )
(a), (b) and (c):Yes Sir. Air India and Indian Airlines issue free/concessional air passages to the employees and their family members on sectors operated by them in terms of their conditions of service. These passages are issued on `subject-to-load basis` and are accepted for travel in the aircraft only after accommodating revenue paying passengers. As per the industry practice, free/ complimentary tickets are normally issued by Airlines in its commercial interest to tour promoters, travel writers, media personnel, important commercial contacts and prominent personalities to encourage and promote travel in their flights and to help in image building of the company.
The number of free/complimentary tickets issued by Indian Airlines and Air India during the last three years are as under:
Year No. of tickets issued. Indian Airlines Air India
2001-02 885 1434 2002-03 678 1051 2003-04 507 1150