Air India and Air India Express had cancelled 147 flights for six days due to fuel shortage resulting in a loss of around Rs 10 crore to the cash-strapped airlines, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said, "Air India and Air India Express had to cancel 147 of its flights between May 27 and June 2, 2011 due to shortage of fuel." In a written reply, he said the losses suffered by Air India due to shortage of fuel amounted to around Rs 10 crore.

The Minister also informed that Air India has closed its offices in 13 locations -- Mauritius, Lusaka, Dar-es-salam, Lagos, Nairobi, Montreal, San Francisco, Houston, Vancouver, Birmingham, Auckland, Copenhagen and Brussels -- and expects to save Rs 5.28 crore from the step.