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Air India set to become a modern airline to compete with the world’s best
With two-thirds of 13,000 employees retiring or opting for VRS
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN
Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 23: Air India’s new private management is busy transforming it into a modern airline to compete with the best in the world. The 154-year-old Tata Group acquired a bleeding Air India from the Government in January. Founded by the legendary JRD Tata as Tata Air Services (renamed Tata Airlines) in 1932, the airline became Air India in 1946, and was nationalized in 1953.The Tatas now want to make it a top airline once again by modernizing just about everything so that it can entice the upwardly mobile next-gen millennials.
An estimated 4,500 Air India employees have opted for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) offered by the new management, according to knowledgeable sources. This is a key part of the Tata Group’s strategy to infuse fresh energy by hiring new talent across operations in the airline.It’s working on revamping the airline to cut costs, improve productivity and revitalise archaic systems with a digital culture, executives said. When it was acquired, Air India had about 13,000 employees, of which 8,000 were permanent staff and the rest contractual.
“This is work in progress and we all are in for the long transformation haul,” The Economic Times quoted one of the sources saying. “We are also buying top notch aircraft. And we also need top notch talent with international experience to handle the new engines and machines.”
“Fleet upgrading, more destinations, world-class hospitality in-flight or on ground and many such areas are being worked upon,” he said.
The Indian carrier is reported to be considering the purchase of Boeing’s narrow-body planes alongside Airbus A350 jets as part of fleet renewal.Tata executives said Air India needed talent with the right attitude and aptitude to compete with international rivals. Air India had announced the VRS for permanent employees of Air India in June and relaxed the age eligibility criteria to 40 from 55.
In addition, the company announced an ex-gratia payment for employees who apply for voluntary retirement between June 1, 2022, and Jul 31, 2022. “We are right-sizing the organization, roping in new talent, apart from upgrading the quality of aircraft. And all this needs talent with the right skills and abilities to build a superior airline,” said an executive. “It is work in progress and needs patience as we do that.”
Additionally, about 4,000 employees are to retire in the next two years, officials said. The group has launched a major recruitment drive in the top metros as part of its plan.Air India has been appointing new hires as well as taking on senior talent from group companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Tata Digital to handle customer experience, ground handling, the website, call centers and several other digital initiatives. Execution, design and customer service are also being reworked, they said.
Some senior Air India employees have reportedly complained of feeling excluded. However, executives said the group has always been sensitive and fair to employee needs and welfare and all initiatives are with an eye on the future. “We respect all employees in the airline and the turnaround will be achieved with the support of all of them,” one of them said.The Tata Group has to hire fresh talent to ensure that the transformation is successful, said Mark Martin, founder and CEO of aviation consultancy Martin Consulting. “Air India has to appeal to the upwardly mobile next-gen millennials,” he said.
“It has to become a modern airline and shed systems, processes and people from an era where the mindset has been set and cannot be changed. This is a digital era and the airline has to be revamped in terms of systems and people to be consumer-focused.”
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
