inister moots massage on air, A-I says "no oil" By Deepshikha Ghosh, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Trying to catch up with world class in-flight services, India's flagship carrier Air-India (A-I) wants to start giving massages to its long-suffering clients, but it does not know how. A-I officials Monday reacted cautiously to Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain's reported plan to introduce the much sought after Kerala massage on board. Hussain's plan features a Kerala-style Ayurvedic message that would have masseurs giving the whole body treatment with herbal oils. The minister reportedly targeted at an experience unmatched by any other airline. The idea is also to upstage the Virgin Atlantic airline that recently introduced a massage in a range of services aimed at treating the customer like a king. But A-I officials say oil and anything close would be a complete no-no on any aircraft. "If it is the Kerala massage that the minister is talking about, then it is impossible on flight as it would spread a stink in the whole aircraft," an A-I official told IANS from Mumbai. But he said the airline could contemplate the Virgin-style massage. "That is a dry treatment, which only has masseurs applying pressure with their fingers. I don't see how we can try to be different from that." So A-I officials were Monday making several calls to clarify matters from the office of the minister, who is currently touring the Gulf. "We need to see what the minister has suggested an accordingly go about it. He has also talked about trained masseurs from Kerala, but we don't know what exactly is the plan," the official remarked. Since Hussain says his proposal had the hearty approval of the cabinet and MPs - who are mandated to take the A-I for their foreign tours -- the airline may have to start its groundwork soon. The airline also plans to introduce "slumberette" or 180 degree reclining seats and personal televisions for passengers. An airline spokesman also said the menu, criticised most often by hapless commuters, was being completely revamped. Dubbed the "Maharaja' for its famous mascot, A-I has been in the financial doldrums with mounting losses due to lack of fleet, fuel-guzzling ageing Boeing aircraft, excess wage bill and employee benefits. Poor in-flight services have also placed it on the bottom of the scale. After failing to attract buyers to offload a part of its stake in the airline, the government is trying to rejuvenate the airline. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
