After reports private airlines were asked to extend certain privileges to members of Parliament (MPs) drew flak, the government on Wednesday went into damage control. The civil aviation ministry issued a statement that it hadn't given any such instructions.
Separately, Minister Ajit Singh denied private airlines had been asked to offer MPs privileges such as free snacks, use of VIP lounges, priority clearances and a protocol officer.
He said no "fresh guidelines" had been issued in this regard but added, "There may have been a circular in 2007...I am not aware what exactly it said."
Air India is the only airline that extends such privileges to MPs. The ministry's clarification followed a media report that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had written to airlines , saying it had received complaints from MPs airlines except Air India weren't offering various privileges to them. It added existing guidelines on the matter only mentioned Air India and these would be revised to include private airlines.
