Pune: After Air India (AI) announced on the 71st Independence Day that it would accord priority to armed forces in boarding, some defence personnel are claiming that Air India is not giving any such priority to defence officials at the Pune airport.
One incident took place on September 18, when a Delhi-bound flight AI 850 was ready to depart from Pune airport. An officer in the armed forces claimed that Air India did not make any prior announcement for defence personnel to board first on the flight.
However, Air India officials deny any such incident took place at Pune airport. “The allegations are baseless. We always give priority to defence personnel,” said an official of Air India deputed at Pune airport.
According to the official, “We get the list two hours before flights depart from the airport. The list always mention whether passengers are bureaucrats, armed forces personnel or doctors. We give them priority as per aviation rules. After the announcement of giving priority to armed forces personnel, we inform them in advance before the flight
departure.
“So, it is mpossible that the airline did not inform the officers or it was not announced early.”
