Air India employee unions write to PM Modi, seek waiver of airline loans

Several employee unions of Air India on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding waiver of the airline’s loans and run it by a professional management.

Against the backdrop of the government working out the modalities for Air India disinvestment, seven employee groupings have also said the carrier can be turned around.

“Air India has been reporting operational profit for as long as three years. Servicing the loans is a major challenge as the annual outgo is an upwards of Rs 4,000 crore,” they said in a letter.

The letter has been signed by representatives of seven unions — Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association, Indian Pilots’ Guild, Air Corporations Employees’ Union, All India Cabin Crew Association, Air India Employees’ Union, Indian Aircraft Technicians’ Association and All India Aircraft Engineers’ Association.