Kingfisher launching 8 new routes, suspending 2; AI's turnaround plan

[Foxtrot]

IT is launching international flights on eight new routes in its network. These will be only to/from BOM and DEL. Meanwhile service between BLR and both, LHR and CMB has been suspended from Sep. 15th.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/N...ow/4766727.cms

AI, which has been losing money like a dam collapse gone bad, seems to have a turnaround plan. Hopefully this works well!

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/N...ow/4786394.cms

[saupatel]

Maybe if AI got rid of the old flight attendants and put some young talent in there, people would think about flying them again . That is what Kingfisher and Jet Airways has in place right now.

[tommyalf]

AI's plan sounds like more of a way to raise capital in the short term rather then a long term plan.

[AA 1818]

AI's plan sounds like more of a way to raise capital in the short term rather then a long term plan.

Either:

1). Sadly, this is a wise plan given the times that we are living in, and so, a quick capital building exercise will only build taxpayer/investor support, which the company believes to be the most valuable asset to the company at the moment, knowing full and well that their survival is assured as they are a state-owned carrier and/or they are going to receive the funding to survive irregardless...

Or

2). Their priorities are so very warped that they assume that weathering the current financial crisis will assure them success in the future. Once again, perhaps possible if they believe that they can survive due to their status (as a state-financed carrier).

Either way - some of these changes simply need to be made. Their plan for capital raising seems a bit odd, but their other plans seem simply on par with what needed to be done (I use the word 'needed' because these things truly should have been done at the time of the merger between IC and AI, and not simply now because of the horrible financial situation).

Something that is a bit horrible to say...
Air India could be a bit more 'selective' when it comes to flight crews, as there are not nearly the legal measures in place (in India) to guard 'politically correct' (in the Western form of the sentiment) hiring practices. In other words - they could take a page out of SQ's book (by hiring the most 'ascetically pleasing' flight crews), and see a healthy rise in business because of it.