Air India revenue rose 11% in 2017-18 : CMD Kharola

Disinvestment-bound Air India registered about 11% growth in revenue, as the airline’s fiscal and performance parameters were good in the last financial year, according to its chief Pradeep Singh Kharola.

Disinvestment-bound Air India registered about 11% growth in revenue, as the airline’s fiscal and performance parameters were good in the last financial year, according to its chief Pradeep Singh Kharola.   | Photo Credit: Mohammed Yousuf

Records 80% passenger load factor amid divestment plan

Disinvestment-bound Air India registered about 11% growth in revenue, as the airline’s fiscal and performance parameters were good in the last financial year, according to its chief Pradeep Singh Kharola.

The loss-making national carrier also recorded 80% passenger load factor in 2017-18 amid the government preparing for its strategic disinvestment.

Performance parameters

Mr. Kharola said on Thursday the performance parameters of the airline had been good in the last financial year.

The load factor was about 80% and revenue growth was in the range of 11%, Mr. Kharola added.

“... the financials are being firmed up but fiscal parameters have been good (in 2017-18),” the chairman and managing director said.

In 2016-17, the airline raked in a total revenue of ₹22,177.68 crore compared with ₹20,610.33 crore in the same period a year ago, as per the annual report.

About the carrier’s on-time performance (OTP) in the last fiscal, Mr. Kharola said there had been a “marked improvement” on an year-on-year basis.

On March 28, the government came out with the preliminary information memorandum for the strategic disinvestment of Air India, wherein it plans to offload 76% as well as cede management control to private players.

In February, the Civil Aviation Ministry said Air India had been “consistently improving” its overall performance and more than doubled its operating profit to Rs 298.03 crore in 2016-17.