French investigators have found traces of TNT explosive on the wreckage of EgyptAir flight MS804, according to a media report. Le Figaro said that French investigators were prevented from further examination of crash debris after detecting the traces. EgyptAir flight MS804, flying from Paris to Cairo, crashed into the Mediterranean May 19, killing all 66 on board. Le Figaro said the dispute over further access to crash debris had poisoned relations between France and Egypt. The newspaper said Egypt wanted to draft a joint report but France has refused. Audio from the flight deck voice recorder recovered from MS804 indicated an attempt to put out a fire on board the aircraft before it crashed. <br/>
star
The government is seeking to hire a new joint managing director to steer Air India’s turnaround and debt restructuring plan. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which is headed by prime minister Narendra Modi, has asked the aviation ministry to fill the position, which fell vacant in 2014. Air India has had 2 joint MDs since it merged with Indian Airlines in 2007. Bureaucrat Vishwapati Trivedi was the first. Syed Nasir Ali, an Indian Revenue Service officer deputed to the aviation ministry, served as joint MD from 2012 to 2014. “The ACC did not extend the tenure of Ali any further and since then this position has been vacant. Now they want it revived. It is now felt that we need someone to be the eyes and ears of the govt and help with the turnaround process,” said an official. <br/>
Air India is stepping up its advertising campaign to lure customers from LCCs like IndiGo. Saturday, Air India put up an advertisement on a wall panel right behind IndiGo’s check-in counters at Mumbai airport with a message — “Next time fly with Air India and feel the difference.” The billboard does not name any rival airline but the strategic placement says it all. IndiGo has about 40% market share, more than double of Air India’s 14.8%. “We are trying to project Air India for what it is — the real comfort level, the warmth, good leg space, great food and extra baggage space,” said Air India chairperson Ashwani Lohani. This is not the first time an airline has used such a strategy. However, such aggressive marketing is a first for Air India. <br/>