(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the newsitem captioned `UK blacklists Alliance` appearing in Hindustan Times dated July 21,2000;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether several foreign countries have directed their diplomats and visiting tourists not to use Alliance-Air flights; and
(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ward off such actions from other foreign countries?
THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI SHARAD YADAV)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b),(c) and (d): The thrust of the news item was on the
reported directive issued by the British Foreign Office to
its diplomats in India not to use Alliance Air because of
withdrawal of service contract by Rolls Royce for its engine
purportedly on safety grounds.
This was, however, factually incorrect. The Alliance Air
B-737 aircraft is not fitted with any Rolls Royce engine, as
alleged in the Article. They are in fact, fitted with Pratt
& Whitney engines, which are serviced at the Indian Airlines
Jet Engine Overhaul facility in New Delhi. The foreign
office of British Diplomats have also confirmed that they
have not issued any instructions against use of Alliance Air
to their mission in Delhi.