No bar on AI

If you look forward to a peg of fine scotch and find it missing on an Air India (AI) flight, don't blame it on cost-cutting. Liquor is not being served on certain AI flights since last week by the crew citing staff shortage.

AI cabin crew belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines (IC) and representing the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) have stopped serving liquor to protest the inadequate number of staff deployed on international flights.

IC cockpit and cabin crew operate a few international flights including those to Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat, Bangkok, Singapore and Shanghai.

There are about 250-270 crew members of whom 70 per cent are ACEU members. Last week ACEU General Secretary Vivek Rao issued a directive to all members not to provide bar service if crew strength on the flight was restricted to a bare minimum.