BUSINESS

SC allows more crew aboard A-I flights

November 05, 2004 20:25 IST
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Bombay High Court order restraining Air India from taking more than 12 cabin crew per jumbo jet in an international flight.

The interim order was given by a Bench of Chief Justice R C Lahoti, Justice D M Dharmadhikari and Justice G P Mathur on a petition filed by Air India challenging the High Court order.

The High Court, entertaining a petition from Air India Cabin Crew Association, had restrained India's international carrier from taking more than 12 trained cabin crew aboard its international flight on the ground that it violated the safety rules fixed by Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Appearing for Air India, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi stated that Air India had been taking seven untrained cabin crew for hospitality purposes in addition to 12 trained ones.

Terming the Cabin Crew's petition as a commercial interest litigation in the disguise of safety rules, he said if the seven untrained cabin crew were not taken on the Delhi-London-Delhi flight, each of the 12 trained cabin crew would make Rs 70,000 each for trip.

The DGCA clarified before the court on Friday that taking seven hospitality cabin crew does not hinder any of the safety aspect of the flight.

The court, after hearing both the parties, permitted the untrained cabin crew to go on international flights subject to the condition that they will wear different uniforms and a badge mentioning that they are for hospitality purpose.

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