Minister denied ticket, but AI staff kin flies for free?

Air India failed to confirm Tamil Nadu’s Hindu religious and charitable endowments minister K R Periyakaruppan’s ticket even though he was issued a wait list ticket on the Chennai-Madurai flight on August 3. However, wife of an Air India official travelled on the same flight in business class on a free ticket (a discount ticket issued to staff and their relatives) that is issued only if seats are available. The minister had paid Rs 11,800 for his ticket.


Additional senior PA to minister Periakaruppan has shot off a letter to the chairman and managing director (CMD) of Air India demanding "action against general manager of Air India at the airport who misused his powers and made a loss to Air India."
The letter was sent because the minister’s staff found out that a passenger travelled on a free ticket, which was supposed to be provided only when seats are available, on the same flight. "It came to the knowledge of the minister that one person travelled on business class seat number 3D on a free ticket, issued subject to availability," said R Anna, additional senior PA to the minister. The minister later took the evening Kingfisher flight to Madurai.
Sources said there were 12 'no show' passengers on IC671 flight even though AI officials informed the minister that all seats were full. Meanwhile, the ticket of Sulochana Ramdas, wife of a senior Air India official, was later confirmed at 10.42am.