There is an air of despondency and uncertainty in the Indian Airlines (IA).

The airline’s impending merger with Air India (AI) is filled with sadness because the lifeline of Indian air travel for decades will no more be there even by name and there is uncertainty because of the still unresolved issues relating to human resources (HR).

Even as the Civil Aviation Ministry waits the outcome of the objections of the trade unions over merger which are being addressed before the corporate affairs ministry, the employees at the IA are keeping their fingers crossed.

Cross-section of employees at different IA departments which Deccan Herald spoke to, overwhelmingly opposed the merger but maintained that it was an inevitability.

The employees, nevertheless wanted the ministry to ensure that there was no heartburn among the employees of IA or AI before the merger takes off.

Several employees at IA talked of the ‘cultural change’ that the integration will bring about for them.

‘Merger or take-over’

There were some who questioned whether it was “merger or take-over” as AI has been reported to be displaying its ‘bossy attitude’.

A senior IA official noted that staff in the airline were emotionally insecure because of the merger.

Echoing this feeling, another IA employee, belonging to the engineering section, pointed out, “It seems they have already started neglecting the developments on the IA side.

Feelings hurt

Added another, “There is a feeling of hurt amongst us. IA was India’s lifeline especially at the time of crises.”
IA has always been there, be it during the Gujarat earthquake, the Orissa cyclone or the evacuation of Indians in Kuwait or during tsunami, we were always in the midst of action, he added.

A finance section employee pointed out, “Nothing remains of IA brand, colour, logo. There is a feeling that human resource issues like fitment, parity in wages will never be settled to our satisfaction.”

It seemed the IA employees at the marketing section were more unsure than other departments over the outcome of merger.

“IA’s marketing section is known for quick decisions unlike AI. There are 26 managers in AI marketing section, we have only five”, an employee remarked.

He added, “We can’t afford to wait in these times of competition from private airlines.”

On the plus side, he said AI publishes its calendar on promotions etc, before the beginning of the year. Reality, however, is sinking in.

Prior information

IA CMD had written to  the employees about two months ago over the impending merger.  Then, AI CMD Mr V Thulasidas, who will be the boss of the merger entity, wrote in June end, detailing the way forward for the company, christened National Aviation Company of India Limited.