National

Government wants private airlines to give special treatment to MPs

New Delhi: Central Government has asked private airlines to give special privileges like lounge access and faster security clearance to MPs.
According to a reply to a Parliament question in August 2013, a 2007 protocol is “to be followed by all concerned, including private airports and airlines”.

Following numerous complaints by MPs that private airlines were not adhering to the protocol, the Civil Aviation Ministry has been reminding the carriers to extend the courtesies. On January 17, the DGCA held a meeting with airlines who were told to abide by the protocol.

“You are saying fresh guidelines have been issued. No such guidelines have been issued,” he said. “No guidelines have been issued to private airlines for extending any protocol to Ministers and MPs,” new DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar said, maintaining that it has not given any instruction to private airlines to extend any such facility to MPs.

Air India has been the only airline which has been extending such courtesies to the MPs so far. Slamming the decision, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it reflected “a special kind of disconnect with the reality”, an apparent reference to demands for austerity from the political class.

Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam said he does not support any such move. “I think it is better to travel like a common man. Moreover, our MPs already get executive class tickets. So, if they want something bigger than this, I feel it is not necessary.”

Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel said, “the whole issue of privileges to MPs by Air India or private carriers is blown out of proportion, there is nothing even earlier to suggest that there is preferential treatment.”

Show More

Related Articles

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker