Air India refuses tickets to govt agencies that owe more than US$14,000 to debt-ridden airline

In what appears to be a first, debt-ridden Air India has refused to issue tickets for official travel of officials from govt agencies that owe the airline more than US$14,000. The airline has drawn up a list of defaulters that still owe dues to the airline. Govt agencies that have made it to the list include the CBI, IB, Enforcement Directorate, Indian Audit Board, Controller of Defence Accounts, Border Security Force, Central Labour Institute and Customs commissioners. Last month, Air India's finance department started gathering data on govt dues. The agencies have been put on 'cash and carry' in the past few weeks. "They are issued tickets only if they pay upfront," said an official. The airline has, however, made some exceptions including the Airports Authority of India, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Lok Sabha. <br/>