It has been only downs for Air India. Caught in a tight-jacketed financial bind, the airline started its downhill journey a long ago and if nothing is done to revive its fortunes by the end of this financial year, India could bid farewell to the iconic national carrier. A report
If there is one symbol that the Narendra Modi-led government would like to keep behind closed doors it is Air India’s Maharaja. However well-intentioned the proposal to divest Air India might have been, the scenario is similar to Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be: that is the question” dilemma. Only this time around it is simply: “To sell or not to sell: that is the question”.
The question apart, the fact remains that the conditions attached to the sale scared the potential bidders leaving the government in a Catch-22 situation: keeping the Maharaja alive would be drain taxpayers’ money and closing it down would take its toll on its employees.
All this was because despite the efforts of the Civil Aviation Ministry, not one bidder showed interest in Air India till May 31, the deadline for the ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) bids under AI's divestment process. In fact, the government had clarified details in its EOI on May 1: these included plans of retaining the 24 per cent stake in the divested entity, provision of ESOPs (employee stock ownership plan) and on the total debt and liabilities that were expected to remain with AI.
Ernst &Young, the government’s disinvestment adviser for Air India, gave three reasons for the no-show of bidders: a) Government not willing to part with 100 per cent of the carrier; b) Keeping the present set of employees; and, c) Running the airline by proxy for the first three years. A question then that keeps popping up is: Shouldn’t Ernst & Young have advised the government after due diligence? Shouldn’t the adviser given proper warning?
Esta historia es de la edición July 2018 de Cruising Heights.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 2018 de Cruising Heights.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
India's space economy set to soar
India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake.
JettWings leads the way in UDAN 5.3
JettWings Airways has emerged as a frontrunner in the aviation industry, solidifying its position as a leading private operator under the UDAN RCS 5.3 scheme.
Sock drying to underwear adventures: Laundry tales at 30,000 feet
Picture this: you're settled into your first-class seat, ready for a smooth and luxurious flight with United Airlines. But as you glance around, you notice something that makes you do a double-take.
PLETHORA OF AIR TRAVEL ACTIVITY IN THE INDIAN SKIES
The Northern Summer schedule for 2024 took off on March 31, 2024, ushering in a rush of air travel activity. With DGCA's seal of approval on 24,275 weekly departures, the skies buzzed with an average of 3,467 flights daily. However, on the inaugural day, airlines only managed to execute 3,035 scheduled domestic flights, representing a modest 87.5 per cent of the approved schedule. Delving into the nuances of this aviation landscape, an exclusive analysis by aviation analytics company Cirium unveils fascinating insights into the longest and shortest flights crisscrossing the Indian skies.
Agnibaan SOrTeD rocket launch postponed again
Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos called off the maiden launch of its 3D-printed, semi-cryogenic Agnibaan rocket about 129 seconds before lift-off citing communication in the onboard hardware.
Pushpak RLV-TD successfully lands autonomously
ISRO achieved another significant milestone in reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology with the successful landing of Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, autonomously on the runway.
TIME FOR CREDIBLE ROTARY-WING CAPABILITIES
With tactical-level challenges looming in India’s neighbourhood, it is time for the Indian armed forces to rapidly brush up on rotorcraft capabilities. A Special Report
"PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES: A TROUBLED LEGACY IN NEED OF REVIVAL"
Pakistan International Airlines PIA), once renowned for its slogan Great People to Fly With,’ has a storied history of contributions to the aviation industry. despite its illustrious past, PIA has faced challenges in recent decades, witnessing a decline from its former glory. This downward trajectory has prompted concerns about the airline's sustainability and competitiveness in the modern aviation landscape. The Pakistan government is now preparing to privatise the
Qatar explores major widebody order with Boeing, Airbus
Qatar Airways is reportedly in preliminary discussions with both Boeing and Airbus regarding a potential order of up to 150 widebody jets to modernise and expand its fleet as it needs to tackle the issue of an ageing fleet for long-distance.
"Embraer achieves ETOPS-120 certification for E2 Series
Embraer recently achieved a significant milestone with the acquisition of 120-minute ETOPS (Extended-Twin Engine Operations Performance Standards) approval for its E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft.