The Hindu Business Line : Air India reports loss in first half

AIR India has suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 37.15 crore during April-September this year compared to a profit of Rs 1.05 crore during the same period the previous year.

However, the airline saw an upsurge in the number of passengers during the first six months of the current fiscal at more than 21 lakh compared to about 18 lakh during the corresponding previous period.

The Maharaja also reported a provisional loss of Rs 10.50 crore during September alone this year compared to a net profit of Rs 16.45 crore in the same month last year. During September 2004, it carried about 3.37 lakh passengers compared to about 2.99 lakh in September 2003.

Meanwhile, Indian Airlines, which reported a profit of Rs 44.17 crore during 2003-04, managed to prune its cumulative losses to Rs 66.40 crore during the first six months of this fiscal from Rs 103.5 crore during the same period in the previous year.

Like Air India, IA too saw an increase in the number of passengers carried during April-September this year at 34.50 lakh compared to 27.32 lakh during the same period the previous year.

The airline carried 5.35 lakh passengers during September this year compared to 4.48 lakh passengers during the same month in the previous year.

In an effort to strengthen the two State-owned carriers, both the Government and the airlines are taking a number of steps.