Perform or perish: Patel to Air India

NEW DELHI: Country's national carrier Air India will have to perform and compete with the best in the industry, else it will 'perish', Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Monday.
  
"I have no hesitation to say the government can support to an extent. Beyond that, they have to perform on their own or perish," he said.
   
As competition intensifies by the day, after a certain extent, the national carrier has to perform on its own, the minister said.
   
"The people working in the airlines do not take certain issues as importantly or seriously in this era of competence," he said.
   
He castigated the media, saying that delays take place on many airlines, but the media invariably singles out the national carrier for criticism.
   
"Delays take place on many airlines. I don't know why you people (media) have a fancy to take on only Air India. I take strong objection to that, saying this with remorse that there is little consideration shown to the national carrier," Patel told reporters during the Civil Aviation safety week organized here.
   
The Minister said issues like non-availability of new fleet, ongoing Haj pilgrimage and VVIP movement also needed to be taken in consideration as they also lead to inordinate delays.
   
The minister advised the media to be more responsible in reporting in the wake of constraints faced by Air India in its operations.
   
"It becomes very fashionable to speak out against the national carrier," Patel remarked.