The government today said the national carrier Air India incurred a loss of Rs 7,226 crore during the last two fiscals.
"Air India had incurred a loss of Rs 2,226.16 crore during 2007-08 and it has expected to incur a loss of approximately Rs 5,000 crore during the year 2008-09," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said in written reply to Rajya Sabha.
Replying to another query on expansion of air services during the 11th Plan, the minister said, "The government has laid down route dispersal guidelines with a view to achieve better regulation of Air Transport Services taking into account the need for these services of different regions, including the north-eastern region."
He added it was up to the airlines to provide services to specific places and they were free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of rule dispersal guidelines issued by the government.
