After two years of the pandemic, there is optimism that India is set for a big boom in aviation. How do you see the prospects? A/ I certainly hope the worst is behind us. As this pandemic has shown, it is important to be on our toes, hope for the best and prepare for the worst. The civil aviation sector underwent losses of $370 billion globally and close to $2.9 billion (around ₹2,200 crore) domestically. To reemerge like a phoenix post this torturous 26 months or so is certainly something to be celebrated.
Just to give you some numbers, we were close to four lakh passengers a day pre-Covid and we reached that level at 4.07 lakh persons travelling on a particular day in May. We are now averaging 3.6 lakh to 4 lakh on a daily basis, which is extremely heartening.
Even through these difficult times, airlines have been doing huge public service with the Vande Bharat flights and Operation Ganga. The successful divestment of Air India has freed up taxpayer money—it had ₹63,000 crore in debt and [was] making losses of ₹20 crore a day (₹7,500 crore a year). That money would now be better utilised through investment in infra, education and health sector and other areas. That was an extremely important event for us, as it was a divestment that had failed multiple times.
Esta historia es de la edición July 17, 2022 de THE WEEK India.
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Esta historia es de la edición July 17, 2022 de THE WEEK India.
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A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock