31 sectors out of 182 operated by Air India are loss-making: Govt

NEW DELHI: Nearly 17 per cent of the total routes operated by Air India are loss-making, the government said today.

Of the total 182 sectors, Air India is unable to "meet its total cost" in 31 sectors, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Some of these routes include Delhi-Guwahati-Imphal, Delhi-Srinagar, Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Leh, Mumbai-Dubai and Delhi-Abu Dhabi.

To a question on whether the government proposes discontinuing operation of flights in these sectors, Sinha said, "No. Air India takes into account the revenue contributions made by the subject services to its other services by feeder traffic.

"Non-profitability of any one flight is not taken in isolation as the sole barometer of its financial performance."

Air India flies to 118 domestic airports as well as 64 international airports.