New Delhi: Air India unions are likely to meet next week in the national capital to discuss their strategy amid the government going ahead with the disinvestment process.
People familiar with the matter say efforts are on to bring all staff unions of Air India including those of the pilots and engineers on one platform and work out a strategy to deal with the situation arising out of the government’s decision to offload its stake in the flag carrier.
Air India, which has over 20,000
employees on its roll, has as many as six recognised unions, representing
ground and commercial staff, pilots, cabin crew and engineers, among others,
besides, several unrecognised unions.
To revive the loss-making state-run
carrier, which also has a debt burden of over Rs 50,000 crore, the government
has decided to go for its strategic disinvestment and the modalities are being
worked out by a Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) had on June 28 given in-principle nod for strategic divestment
of Air India and five of its subsidiaries. The government has already
invited applications for engaging up to two advisers, a legal adviser and asset
valuer for the strategic disinvestment of Air India and its subsidiaries/ joint
venture.
The finance ministry, which has been pumping small doses of money every year into Air India, seems reluctant to spend more. The airline had landed up in this situation because of the loans it had taken to add some 111 aircraft to its ageing and depleted fleet.
Earlier this month, Tata conglomerate showed interest in bidding for Air India as the group needs to increase the sizes of its aviation business.
According to media reports, some companies including low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, ground handling company Bird Group and Turkey’s Celebi Aviation Holdings have expressed an interest in buying some of Air India’s various businesses.
The finance ministry, which has been pumping small doses of money every year into Air India, seems reluctant to spend more. The airline had landed up in this situation because of the loans it had taken to add some 111 aircraft to its ageing and depleted fleet.
Earlier this month, Tata conglomerate showed interest in bidding for Air India as the group needs to increase the sizes of its aviation business.
According to media reports, some companies including low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, ground handling company Bird Group and Turkey’s Celebi Aviation Holdings have expressed an interest in buying some of Air India’s various businesses.
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