No Air India ticket on credit to defaulting govt entities

Cash-strapped Air India has decided not to allow booking of tickets on credit to various ministries, departments and agencies under the Central Government.

Sources in the national carrier said the move was aimed at recovering dues from the ministries and departments that owed over Rs 10 lakh to the airline. Such entities would not be able to book air tickets on credit now, they added.

Sources said a sum of Rs 268 crore was pending with these ministries and departments,



including some prominent investigating agencies of the country. “Government departments and agencies book tickets on credit and the payments remain pending for years. Air India is a government-owned airline, so they do not show any urgency in clearing dues,” said a senior AI official.

These departments will now have to make a payment of Rs 10 lakh before booking tickets, it is learnt.

Another senior AI official said around Rs 50 crore had already been settled by various departments.