Non Resident Indians - Give a little help to Air India

Our National Carrier, Air India, is passing through difficult time, having fallen victim to circumstances, brought by pressures from foreign airlines. It brought in irrational capacity growth in the market, allowing foreign airlines to bring in price wars, preferential treatment for foreign carriers in bagging prime slots and squeezing Air India to its present state.

Air India has asked the Government of India for a bailout package of Rs.10,000 crores (about $2 billion) from the central government to get out of the financial mess it finds itself in. Everyone knows it is the mismanagement of Air India corporate heads which has taken it to this stage. We know many reasons for the loss of Air India. We can hope Air India Corporate will learn from these pitfalls and rise up from this difficult situation.

As there are many Indians living across the world and we NRI's are the bread basket for every Airlines flying into India. Most of Air India’s flight operations are to Bombay or Delhi and having not many direct flights to our home city. This is a major drawback in the part of Air India and we have to opt for foreign carriers while returning to India. Apart from that difficulty in transfers in Bombay or Delhi cheaper airfare and warm hospitality in foreign Airlines are some of the compelling reasons to travel in a foreign Airline.

Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav told AI will turnaround in 3 years. We can hope he will take necessary measures to turnaround in the current situation. Even though travelling on Air India or visiting an Indian Embassy is a worst experience in our life, let us give a chance to Air India to come out of this present situation. We Non Resident Indians can provide our support to Air India and contribute to a large extent in helping it to recover from the present crisis by making it a point to travel by our national Airline.

Signers please mention your closest international airport in your country and closest international airport in your state in India. (eg.London- cochin, New York-Bangalore, Vienna-Madras etc).

Friends, it is now the time for us to repay the trust and value that Air India has placed in us. Let us re-affirm our patriotism and bring Air India, our country’s Flag Carrier out of the ‘Red’.

Save Air India forum aims to submit a request petition to Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Praful Patel to start a direct flight to major cities from your inputs in the petition like London- cochin, New York-Bangalore, Vienna-Madras etc which will help NRI's in UK, US, Austria, Canada, Switzerland and Australia etc. It will save our journey time and can extend a supporting hand to Air India too. Please name your nearest airports while signing the petition. The more the people, better the chances of getting a direct flight in that sector.

There are many chartered flights operating from Europe bringing tourists to many cities in India with fully booked flights. Adding to it, direct flight is definitely a boost for the tourism sector too.

So we request all our Non Resident Indian friends to sign up this petition campaign and forward to your Indian friends also. Indian community organisations please circulate this petition to your members.