Debt-laden Air India has asked the government to refurbish its aircraft interiors and ensuring fully functional in-flight entertainment (IFE), especially on ultra-long haul non-stops to the US, reported The Economic Times.

In a reply, the government has asked the Air India management to find out the exact cost of refurbishing its aircraft interiors with fully operational IFE, the report said.

Suresh Prabhu, aviation minister, while asking Air India chairman P S Kharola to find out the exact amount required said, “Big foreign airlines spend huge sums of money on interior upgradation. We cannot do that much but some things need to be ensured like having fully functional IFE screens on AI’s long-haul flights. We will seek money for this from finance ministry."

The airline management has made a presentation to the aviation ministry under which it has proposed cost-cutting and revenue enhancement measures, the report said.

Meanwhile, the aviation ministry after receiving complaints from passengers on AI's long-haul flights asked the airline to maintain that business class passengers on the Maharaja should get equal service to that of high-paying flyers in other airlines, the daily said, adding that economy passengers should also get value-for-money travel experience.

First Published:Nov 29, 2018 7:56 PM IST