Air India has issued a stringent order for its staff and it would be a pay cut for employees who report late. Hit by poor on-time performance [OTP], Air India has decided to deduct payment of any employee which evetually results in delay of the flight. The Aviation secretary V Somasundaran has passed this order and it would apply to pilots, cabin crew, engineering staff, ground handlers and even in-flight catering suppliers.

Also the secretary has asked the airlines to install biometric attendance system at all flight despatch units to check the attendance of pilots and cabin crew on real time basis. Soon, Delhi which acts as headquarters for Air India will have biometric system and later will be rolled out at all airports in the country. But on the other side, there is also severe shortage of cabin crew and pilots in Air India. Over 80 percent delay is caused by shortage of cabin crew and pilots.

The Aviation secretary has directed for an immediately hiring of cabin crew recently.

- TVR