Air India won't lay off staff: Patel

Chennai, Jul 05 : Although Air India, the public carrier, would not sack employees, financial and organisational restructuring was on the schedule, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel has said.

'There is no question of sacking; employees will be protected. It is time for everyone - management and staff - to introspect,' Patel said.

'It is a tough time and we have to cooperate. We will have to go through financial and organisational restructuring to bring back the airlines on a healthy track,' Patel said.

The minister was speaking on his way to Chennai airport, where he had gone to inaugurate a desalination plant by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited and also the Manali-Chennai Aviation Turbine Fuel Pipeline by Indian Oil Corporation.