Permission to avail of mileage points earned by Government servants on tickets purchased for official tour/visits

N0.11013/7/2008-Estt. (A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)
*****

North Block,
New Delhi,
Dated the 9^th August, 2010

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 – Permission to avail of mileage points earned by Government servants on tickets purchased for official tour/visits and acceptance of ‘Free Companion Ticket’ introduced from time to time by various Airlines, by Government servants.

---------

The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Personnel and Training O.M. No. 11013/7/2008-Estt. (A) dated 03.06.2008 on the subject mentioned above (copy enclosed) and to say that references are being received regarding the free companion/spouse ticket offers in the case of domestic travel extended by the airlines on payment of full fare.

2. In this context, Department of Expenditure have clarified as follows : -

(a) In their OM F.No. 7(1)/E.Coord/2008 dated 01.10.2008 instructions have been issued regarding :-

(i) Buying the cheapest fare in Economy/Business Class travel, preferably by getting information through the internet. (ii) Using Corporate Coupons for EconomylBusiness Class travel through proper planning and coordination.

(b) Instructions for travel on Government account only by Air India were thereafter issued on 13.07.2009. Subsequently, vide OM dated 01.10.2009, all the Ministries/Departments were notified about the ackages/concessions offered by Air lndia for Government of India Officials. All the above instructions were intended to effect economy in the matter of expenditure on air travel by Government of India officials, while on tours.

(c) In regard to whether the free companion ticket offered by Air India while on domestic official tour can be availed of, it may be noted that free companion tickets are provided by the Air lines for domestic travel against full fare tickets only. Purchase of full fare tickets defeats the purpose of instructions issued.

3. It is, therefore, clarified that Government of India officials are not expected to purchase full fare Air tickets but instead avail of - (a) the coupon supersaver booklets being offered by Air lndia for Government of India officials as notified vide the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) OM dated 1^st October, 2009; (b) Supersaver scheme for Business class; or (c) go in for the cheapest Air India fare. In the circumstances, free companion/spouse ticket offers in the case of domestic travel, which are made on payment of full fare, cannot be availed of.

4. Accordingly, all Ministries/Departments are advised to ensure compliance of the instructions by all Government servants in this regard.

(P.PRABHAKARAN)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Click here to get OM
www.persmin.nic.in

Air India’s two unions de-recognised, offices sealed

Air India’s two unions de-recognised, offices sealed

Hours after crushing the two-day old strike by Air India employees, the state-owned airline de-recognised two major trade unions and sealed their offices across the country.

The airline gradually restored normalcy since morning though 25 flights were cancelled for the day.

Erstwhile Indian Airlines' union Air Corporation Employees' Union (ACEU) and All India Aircraft Engineers' Association (AIAEA) have been de-recognised by the management of National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) and their offices have also been sealed, NACIL sources said today. NACIL is the holding company of Air India.

Besides terminating the services of 17 office-bearers of the two Unions last night, the airline suspended 15 engineers. More dismissals and suspensions are likely to follow with highly-placed sources indicating that a total of upto 100 employees would face action.

"The de-recognition order came in last night and their offices have also been sealed," the sources said, as the airline cracked down on the Union leaders.

Dinkar Shetty, a leader of the ACEU, said they were waiting for a formal communication from the management regarding termination and suspension before deciding on the future course of action.

ACEU and AIAEA had gone on a flash-strike on Tuesday to protest a 'gag order' directing the office-bearers of NACIL trade union to refrain from making public statements and harming the image of the company.

The Unions were demanding immediate withdrawal of the 'gag order'. But the Management claimed there was only a general circular which has been upheld by the Mumbai High Court and that there was no such 'gag order.'

The strike led to cancellation of 130 flights affecting 13,000 passengers. Besides, NACIL also incurred losses to the tune of Rs 10 crore due to the strike.

Shortly after the strike was called off, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said the kind of behaviour shown by the striking employees cannot be tolerated repeatedly. "Whoever did it are absolutely irresponsible," he said.

The strike was called off following a Delhi High Court order yesterday. The Government had also turned the heat on the striking employees giving a free hand to Air India management to take stern action against them. About 20,000 employees belonging to ACEU and AIAEA had gone on strike, according to the Unions. The striking employees accounted for roughly 60 per cent of the airline's staff.

Source: Times of India

Govt plans to infuse equity into Air India by March

The government would infuse additional equity into ailing Air India provided it saves at least Rs 2,000 crore this financial year by implementing cost-cutting measures, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Thursday.

"We are broadly looking at equity infusion linked to its monthly performance parameters and we are only looking at till March (2010). This is not the total equity infusion being looked at for Air India," he said after an almost two-hour meeting of a Group of Ministers on the issue.

Based on the national carrier's performance till the end of the financial year, the government would be "able to finally take a call at the end of March as to what will be the final support which the government will provide," he said.

Replying to a question, Patel said Air India "will have to provide a revenue enhancement and a cost-cutting programme to the extent of at least Rs 2,000 crore by March which will be giving a direction on the way forward." The airline, which has shown a net loss of Rs 5,548.26 crore in 2008-09, is seeking a total equity infusion of Rs 5,000 crore.

The GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, was given a presentation on the cash-strapped carrier's plans to reduce costs and enhance savings by CMD Arvind Jadhav and Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar. The meeting was also attended by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

"If recovery is visible, so will the government's support for further equity (infusion)," Patel said.

Maintaining that an interim plan for till March next year has been worked out, he said the GoM decided to review Air India's performance in accordance with the "certain laid out parameters" on a monthly basis till March.

"I appeal to everybody concerned, including all sections of employees, that this is a time of challenge. We must be able to contribute meaningfully in a way when everybody should put their best foot forward. I am sure if that happens, there can be a turnaround," the minister said.

This was the second meeting of the GoM, which came two months after a Committee of Secretaries approved the demand of the airline for infusion of Rs 5,000 crore as equity and assistance, but with stiff riders to improve performance and cut costs.

Air India had lost around Rs 7,200 crore in the previous fiscal. In its book, the company has a debt of Rs 15,000 crore, out of which Rs 11,000 crore is the high-cost borrowing.

The airline's total revenue has also fallen to Rs 13,479 crore in FY'09 from Rs 15,252 crore during the year-ago period.

AI pilots threaten strike from Nov 24

Air India pilots today served the management a fresh ultimatum to sort out issues relating to salary and allowances in eight days, failing which they threatened to go on strike from November 24.

In a letter written to the NACIL Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), said "if issues, including that of pending arrears, are not addressed by November 10, the letter be considered a strike notice.

"This grievance letter be considered as a 14-day notice of strike under section 22 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, by which strike shall be effective from 1700 hrs of November 24."

ICPA, the non-executive pilots' body of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, claims representation of 800 pilots.

It claimed that the company has not paid salary allowances, which constitute almost 70-80 per cent of their salary, since August.
Source:PTI

AI to pay salaries by Oct 31 after pilots warn of stir

With an impending stir threat by its pilots, Air India is likely to pay the September salaries of its employees in two days and incentives and allowances by November 10, airline sources said today.

Talks were held with banks and financial institutions for working capital loans to arrange the amount for payment of salaries, productivity-linked incentives (PLIs) and flying allowances to the employees including pilots, they said.

Sources also said the management of the cash-strapped airline was making all efforts to pay the dues of the employees very soon, including the salaries by October 31 and PLI and allowances by November 10.

Talks with the banks were initiated after negotiations between executive pilots and their other colleagues in Mumbai over the past few days.

Air Travel on official account - both domestic and international

No.19024/1/2009-E.IV

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

*****

NewDelhi,Dated 1st October,2009.

Subject:- Air Travel on official account - both domestic and international

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry's OM of even number 13.7.2009 vide which it was notified that in all cases of air travel, where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, travel would be restricted through Air India.

Air India has now offered following packages/concessions for Govt.of India officials w.e.f.1st October 2009:-

(A) Domestic Sectors:
(i) 4 Coupon Supersaver booklet in Economy class will be priced at Rs.26,816/- to be provided with multiple user facility to GOI officials, valid for travel for 6 months from the date of purchase. The price of these booklets will be reviewed every 6 months i.e. 1st April and 1st October, based on market fares and market conditions. Booking on this booklet will be in 'W' Class.

(ii) Against purchase of 25 booklets, one booklet of 4 coupons will be free of cost.

(B) International Sectors:

IATA Fare		Market Fare
RBD	Discount	RBD	Discount
F/J	25%	F/J	15%
Y	15%	B/H	10%
YE	10%	K/L/M	5%

Against International travels amounting to Rs.8 Lakhs (Basic and Fuel Surcharge), one Supersaver booklet of 4 coupons will be offered free of cost which will be valid on Domestic sectors only.

3. The free super saver booklets in A(i) and B above are being offered in lieu of FFP mileage points, which henceforth will not accrue to GOI personnel individually.

4. It may be clarified that in addition to supersaver booklet cost, applicable govt. taxes and airport fees/levies shall be paid separately.

5. All Ministries/Departments are requested to avail these concessional facilities being offered by Air India to Government of India.

DDOs/PAOs who fail to comply with the provisions of Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 would be liable to pay interest under section 201(1)/(1A) of Income Tax Act along with other penal consequences.

AI to pay PLI to all sections of employees on Oct 7

Air India today said that it would pay productivity-linked incentive (PLI) to all sections of employees on October 7.

"Air India will pay the August PLI payable in September on October 7," Air India's Executive Director, Jitendra Bhargava, told PTI here.

September salaries have already been paid to the employees' respective bank accounts, he said.

The PLI will be paid in full, Bhargava added.

The national carrier has cancelled 14 international and 79 domestic flights today, the fourth day of the strike by a section of its executive pilots protesting against the up to 50 per cent cut in their PLIs effected by the management.
Source:PTI

Bhargava said that today 116 pilots from Indian Airlines and 72 from Air India reported sick.

Govt, not pilots, responsible for Air India mess: BJP

Condemning Air India's decision to reduce wages and performance-related incentives of its pilots and other staff, BJP today demanded withdrawal of pay-cuts and asked the government to explain airline's financial problems.

"BJP demands immediate withdrawal of pay cuts imposed upon pilots and others and bring out a White Paper on the reasons for present financial status of Air India and its accountability," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Blaming the UPA government's policies of "omission and commission" as the reason behind the present mess in Air India, Javadekar said, "It is ironical that instead of making Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel accountable for the present state of affairs of Air India, the hapless pilots and workers are made to suffer."

BJP had raised the issues related to Air India's financial problems in the Rajya Sabha in its last session.
Source: PTI

Journey by air while availing Leave Travel Concession - clarification regarding.

No.3I011/2/2006-Estt.(A)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

(Department of Pension & Pensioners'Welfare)

New Delhi, dated the 27th July, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:Regulation of Journey by air while availing Leave Travel Concession - clarification regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Ministry of Finance,Department of Expenditure O.M.No. 19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 13/7/2009 modifying the O.M. No. 7(2)/E.Coord/2005 dated 23rd November, 2005 and superseding of O.M.No. 19024/1/E.IV/2005 dated 24/3/2006. It has been decided by the Department of Expenditure that in all cases of air travel both domestic and international where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, the officials concerned may travel only by air India. The matter whether these orders will apply in cases of LTC has been considered in consultation with Ministry of Finance, Department of expenditure and it is confirmed that these orders/conditions will apply in cases of LTC also.

2. This issues in consultation with Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) vide their ID No. 39/DS(EG)/2009 dated 20/7/2009.

Air Travel on official account – both domestic and international

Air India employees to get salary without cuts on July 3

Yielding to pressure from its employees, cash-strapped national carrier Air India on Monday decided to give them their June salary July 3, instead of July 15 it decided earlier.
"The management has told us that we would get our salaries on July 3. They have also assured us that there will be no wage cut," JB Kadian, general secretary of the Air Corp Employees' Union (ACEU), said.
ACEU is the largest union among the Air India employees.
The airline employees get their salary on the last day of the month. Earlier Air India had announced that it would delay the June salary by 15 days and also asked the top executives of the airline to forgo their one month pay.
The employees' union protested this move, saying they would go on an indefinite strike from July 1 if the decision was not revoked. Kadian said the top executives would also get their salary.
ACEU and other unions have been holding hectic discussions with the management for over a week.
But they failed to reach a consensus on the airline's proposal to cut costs.
Air India, which incurred a loss of Rs.4,000 crore last fiscal, plans to ask for a Rs.10,000-crore (about $2 billion) bailout package from the central government.
Civil aviation minister Praful Patel met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last Wednesday and discussed the bailout plan with him.
The prime minister suggested him to adopt various cost-cutting measures to improve the financial condition of the National Aviation Co India Ltd (NACIL), which owns Air India.

Source: The Times of India