New Delhi: In a cost-cutting move, cash-stricken national carrier Air India decided to stop serving non vegetarian meals to economy class passengers on domestic flights.
"Air India has taken a conscious decision not to have non-vegetarian meal in economy class on its domestic flights to reduce wastage and costs as well as in order to improve catering service," the airline said in a statement today.
In a recent meeting, the civil aviation ministry was in favour of selling off Air India subsidiaries to raise cash rather than an immediate privatization of the national carrier.
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The cabinet seems to have decided in favour of privatization, but has put the ball in the court of the group of ministers to take a call on the selloff procedures.
Air India has five subsidiaries, including Air India Air Transport Services, Hotel Corporation of India that owns Centaur in Delhi and Lake View in Srinagar and Air India's charter business as well as its engineering arm - Air India Engineering Services.
The airline has received Rs 23,993 crore of the Rs 30,231 crore equity infusion promised by the government under a financial restructuring plan introduced in 2012. It reported a loss of Rs 3,587 crore in 2015-16 against a loss of Rs 5,859 crore in the previous year.
(With additional information from The Telegraph, Calcutta)