Restriction on LTC by Air Travel only in Air India Relaxed

F. No. AV.18011/05/2012-AI

Government of India/ Ministry of Civil Aviation

Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Safdarjung Airport

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Ministry of Finance (MoF) vide O.M. No. 19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 13.7.2009 inter alia envisage that in all cases of air travel, both domestic and international, where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, the officials concerned may travel only by Air India. For travel to stations not connected by Air India, the officials may travel by Air India to the hub/ point closest to their eventual destination, beyond which they may utilize the services of another airline etc. Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) vide O.M. No.31o11/2/2006-Estt.(A) dated 27th July, 2009 had extended the applicability of the MoF’s instructions for LTC purposes. MoF directed that in all cases of deviation of above instructions etc. individual cases be referred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for relaxation.

2. This Ministry has been receiving a number of requests for consideration of blanket/ general permission for LTC on routes where Air India does not provide service and also Air India tickets are not available. The matter has been examined in this Ministry and it has been decided with the approval of Competent Authority to grant permission to Government officials to travel by an airline other than Air India w.e.f. 10.12.2014, only for the purpose of the LTC Block year culminating on 31.12.2014 and only in cases of non-availability of required number of seats on Air India for onward journey till 31.12.2014 and also subject to the condition that the fare charged by any private airline, which is over and above the LTC 80 fare for the sector, shall be borne by the concerned Government official and also subject to the condition that purchase of tickets is done in accordance with the instructions issued by Ministry of Finance from time to time.

(Sunil pant)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India