A day after the DGCA directive on SpiceJet, and the aviation watchdog putting the airline under ``heightened surveillance”, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju met with select newspersons including Business Line and said he hoped that SpiceJet will fly, what it has said comes through (about a potential investor for the airline) and it continues to be of service to Indians.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
Ans: For some time (now) it has been generating anxiety. The heightened surveillance is more a safety requirement. We cannot compromise on safety.
We just wish that the airline will do well and come out of all this. We do not wish any airline to close down but if they decide to go out of business there is hardly anything that we can do. We will like our connectivity to go on. And we would like a situation where our passengers do not feel that they are being taken for a ride.
Do you think DGCA’s action will precipitate the closure of the airline?
Ans: It might precipitate something whether closure or good and practical performance…. It is a double edged sword.
Have any concerns been raised about safety because of the financial stress that the airline is in?
Ans: It might tend to neglect (safety). But as of now no instance has been reported. This is precautionary because of the books reflecting all this.
The US Federal Aviation Authority’s (FAA) audit of Indian aviation begins on Monday. Do you think this is one of the things they might want to look into?
Ans: FAA has already raised its objections on why they have downgraded India, they have a reason. The idea of asking them to come for an audit is because you feel you have met those criteria. You want to get back to Category 1 as downgrade has implications.
Before action was taken by the DGCA was the Ministry informed about it?
Ans: What do we mean by information to the Ministry? We were aware that SpiceJet’s books were bad. Spicejet made a presentation to me some time back. They had interactions at different levels. Everyone will try and be helpful up to a point.
Has that point come as far as SpiceJet is concerned?
Ans: I do not know. I do not do the research.
What we are trying to find out is whether the Ministry directed the action or was it taken independently?
Ans: I do not think anybody would have directed the DGCA to do this. Why will anyone? I do not think DGCA will be directed by anyone. You get your information through many sources. So as a Ministry we are open to everyone.
How different is the SpiceJet situation from that of Kingfisher?
Ans: I was not the aviation minister when Kingfisher crashed.
Have your officials at any time said we need to take action otherwise this could be another Kingfisher ?
Ans: We did not use Kingfisher as our model. It was unfortunate that Kingfisher went down. We do not want SpiceJet to go down. If they are still able to pull up their socks why not?