The test of the will-power of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre should be gauged by its ability to desist from privatization of the national air carrier Air India (AI) and turning around the AI into a profit making airline. Some fundamental measures may bring about this turnaround.
Every employee should be made accountable, there should be infusion of capable high-level new directors into the AI who have the necessary expertise in turning around large scale loss-making airlines into profit generating entities, rationalisation of air fares and expenditure so as to gradually make the airline viable. The BJP government has nothing to lose if the contention is that it inherited an ailing Maharaja who should now get a shot in the arm to keep it flying high.
Politicians using the airline should be charged a nominal rate, at least a no profit no loss charge for political usage. The management and staff should be given incentives for practical contributions that leads to the turnaround of the airline into a profitable venture. If the BJP government succeeds in turning the fortunes of the air carrier, it will be a feather in the cap of the government.
Normally, national flagship airlines of various countries in the world are run by the government and it is time for the BJP to give it all to try and turn around this prestigious airline. Privatisation should be the option of last resort, after exhausting all avenues to transform the airline into a profit making one. The AI is the symbol of India’s civilian air transport and it should be run by the government itself. The challenge is not insurmountable. It is an opportunity for the BJP to tackle badly managed state-owned companies and the unleashing of management abilities to combat loss-making of this state-run airline.
By the end of the tenure of this government, visible signs should be seen of the AI becoming India’s healthy and happening prestige in the face of adversary. By 2019, the government can take credit for the turnaround of AI by professionally managing this ailing behemoth.
