Delegation of powers to Financial Advisers to accord exemption for air travel in airlines other than Air India in individual cases

Relaxation to travel by airlines other than Air India while availing LTC will be granted only in exceptional circumstances. Non availability of Air India Flight or Seat on a particular on a particular day or time will not be considered a reason for relaxation

LTC and Official Tour in Private Airlines – Ministry of Finance issues Guidelines for all Central Government Employees to travel by Private Airlines other than Air India – Powers for relaxation has been delegated to Financial Advisers of Ministry

Department of Expenditure has published an OM regarding procedure to be followed by Govt Officials for travelling through private airlines.

No.  19024/1/2009-E.IV

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

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New  Delhi,   dated the 7th  June,  2016 .

  
  OFFICE MEMORANDUM 

Sub:- Delegation  of powers  to Financial Advisers  to accord exemption for air travel  in  airlines other than Air India  in individual cases – reg. 

Reference   is  invited  to  Department   of Expenditure’s O.M. of even number  dated  13th July 2009 which  provides  that  in all cases  of air  travel,   both domestic and   international, wherein the Government  of India bears  the cost of air   passage,  officials have to travel  in Air  India only. For cases of air travel  by Airlines  other than Air India  because of operational  or other reasons or on account of non-availability,   the  powers  were  vested  with    Ministry of Civil Aviation  to accord exemption  in individual cases.

2.The  matter   has  been  examined   in  consultation   with the   Ministry   of  Civil Aviation. Accordingly,      powers      are    hereby     delegated     to     the     Financial     Advisers    of     the Ministries/Departments to accord  exemption  for  air travel,  both Domestic  and International,  by airlines other  than  Air  India.  In respect of individual  cases of Autonomous Bodies, the  Financial Advisers of the concerned Ministry/  Department  will  accord exemption  for Air travel  by Airlines other than Air India. The individual   cases   of Financial Advisers  for  air travel  in airlines other  than Air India,  will  be approved  by the  administrative   Secretary  of the concerned  Ministry.

3.    To regulate   the   individual  claims, guidelines and proforma for  seeking relaxation for travel by airlines  other than Air  India, are enclosed at Annexure – A & B.

(Nirmala Dev)

Deputy  Secretary  to the Government  of India

                                                                                  Tel.23093276

Annexure- “A”

GUIDELINES  FOR RELAXATION  TO‘TRAVEL  BY AIRLINES OTHER THAN AIR INDIA

1. Request for seeking relaxation  is  required   to be submitted  in the  Proforma  (Annex.   B)

2. The request for  relaxation  must be submitted to Integrated Finance Division at  least 7  working  days in advance from  date  of travel.

3. There is  no requirement    to seek relaxation   for  those Sectors on which  General/blanket relaxation    has been accorded  by Ministry of Civil Aviation.

4. Those seeking  relaxation   on ground of Non-Availability of Seats  (NAS)  must enclose NAS Certificate  issued by authorized travel agents  or a copy of the sector  specific  snapshot of Air India website.

5. As per Ministry of  Finance, Department of Expenditure OM No.19024/1/2009-E.IV dated  13th July, 2009 for  sectors which  are not connected  directly  by any of the airlines, an employee  must  travel  by Air India upto  the  nearest hub. Relaxation will  be granted for the remaining  segment.

6. Relaxation to  travel  by airlines  other  than  Air  India while availing  LTC  will  be granted only  in  exceptional   circumstances. Non  availability   of  AI flight/seats on  a particular day/time  would not be considered as a valid ground for seeking relaxation.

7. Availability  of lower  fare is no criteria for seeking relaxation.

8. Those seeking relaxation  on the ground  of attending  meeting at a  particular  time,  must attach meeting notice and approved tour programme.

9. For foreign  travel  cases, where  full  or partial  grants  are received, journey  has to  be performed   on Air  India  upto  the  place  upto  which  Air  India  is  available  and  seek relaxation  for  the  remaining  sector.   On international   routes  where  Air India  has  code share partner, the same must be utilised.

10. For invitees  from  abroad   travelling  on Government  of India funding,  efforts  should  be made to book them  on Air India and Air India code share  flights  to the  extent possible.

11.Non-receipt  of approval   by the stipulated date does not  entitle  one to claim,  relaxation as a matter  of right.

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Annexure-B

PROFORMA FOR RELAXATION  TO TRAVEL BY AIRLINES OTHER THAN AIR INDIA

Sl No..	Item of Information	Remarks
1.	Name
2.	Designation
3.	Name of  the Organization/Division
4.	Date of visit
5.	Whether Foreign travel/ Domestic travel/ LTC
6.	In case of official visit, copy of approved tour programme
7.	Whether  entitled for Air travel as per rules. If not, copy of approval of competent authority  for air travel
8.	Detailed reasons for seeking permission to travel in airlines other than Air India (Foreign/ Domestic):
9.	Attach  print  out  of communication with  official website  of Air India  and Govt  authorized travel agents viz.  Ashok Travels& Tours,  Balmer  Lawrie & Co. and  IRCTC regarding the above reasons or official communication from Air India and these agencies.
10.	In case of foreign  travel, whether  full or part journey  is proposed  through alliance partner  of Air India
11.	Undertaking from  the travelling  official that in case permission  is granted for  air journey other  than  by Air India, he/she will avail  the cheapest available   ticket  in  the  entitled   category  among  the options   of various private  airlines operating in that sector.

(Signature  of the individual travelling)    (Signature  of the Head  of the Office)

RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION/  MINISTRY

*(Signature  of Joint Secretary)

*Note:In  case  the  individual   travelling  is holding  the  appointment of JS or  above  in  the  Ministry,  no separate  approval of Head of the Organization and approval of the Administrative  Division/Ministry  is required.   In.  such   cases,  self-certification by the  travelling   officer  GS  &above)  will be  sufficient  for submitting  their proposal  for grant  of the said permission.

Download Ministry of Finance OM No.19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 07.06.2016