An internal audit at Air India has uncovered widespread misuse of its Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) policy, with more than 4,000 staff members found to have violated the scheme’s eligibility guidelines.
The irregularities were discovered during an extensive internal audit of the airline’s ELT scheme, which allows employees to use complimentary flight vouchers for personal travel and for designated family members. Some employees reportedly listed individuals who were not their legitimate relatives as nominees to obtain free air tickets. In certain cases, staff members allegedly obtained complimentary tickets and sold them to other travellers at higher prices.
Employees found to have breached the programme’s terms have been fined and asked to repay the value of the tickets. Air India has also tightened its rules, requiring staff to submit documentary proof of family relationships before any travel benefit is approved.
Air India did not immediately respond to PTI’s request for comment regarding the audit findings or the corrective measures being implemented. The issue has emerged at a time when Air India is undergoing a major transformation following its acquisition by the Tata Group in January 2022.
With a workforce of more than 24,000 employees, the airline has been working to restructure operations and strengthen governance standards since the Tata takeover. The scale of the violations, affecting roughly 16% of its workforce, underscores the governance challenges that persist even as the airline overhauls its operational and cultural foundations.
