Air India improves its on-time performance

National carrier Air India improved its on-time performance with 70 percent of its flights departing and arriving on time from four major metropolitan cities during February as against a poor 52.1 percent a month ago, according to DGCA data.

The better OTP comes following Civil Aviation ministry's decision to keep a watch on the airline's operations.

The ministry had directed Air India to cut salary of those employees responsible for delay in flights after its schedule had gone for a toss in January due to the cockpit and cabin crew shortage.

The directives, issued by aviation secretary V Somasundaran, covered almost all section of the operations staff including the pilots, cabin crew, engineering staff, ground handlers and even in-flight catering suppliers.

As many as 89 Air India flights were delayed due to cabin crew issues between December last and February this year, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma had informed Parliament early this month.

According to the DGCA data, the state-run carrier delivered a much better OPT from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai airports during the reporting period with Hyderabad airport seeing 81.3 percent of Air India flight taking off and landing on scheduled time as against 66.7 percent in the previous month.

The OTP from other three airports -- Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai -- was reported at 72.2 percent, 71 percent and 67.3 percent respectively as against 65 percent, 49.7 percent and 46.9 percent in January 2015. Air India is now in the processing of hiring 800 additional cabin crew besides 197 commanders to meet the shortage. The entire process is expected to be completed by July.