Government Begins the Process of Inviting Financial Bids for The Sale of Air India

The process of inviting financial bids for the sale of Air India started. The deal is expected to be completed by September; Tata group is also involved in competition. Competent bidders were given access to the virtual data room (VDR) of Air India. Government is selling its 100 percent stake in Air India.


The deal has now moved into the financial bids phase and is expected to be completed by the government has started the process of inviting financial bids for the sale of national carrier Air India and the deal is expected to be completed by September, according to sources. The Tata group's bid also comprised initial bids to buy loss-making Air India in December last year. Sources said that after analysing the initial bids, qualified bidders were given access to the virtual data room (VDR) of Air India, after which investors' questions would be answered.

Sources said the deal has now gone into the financial bids phase and is expected to be completed by September. The government is selling its all the 100 percent stake in Air India. The airline has been at a loss since its merger with domestic operator Indian Airlines in 2007. The stake sale process was postponed due to the Covid-19 epidemic and the government extended the deadline for submission of initial bids five times.

The successful bidder of this airline will have control over 4,400 domestic and 1,800 international landing and parking slots at domestic airports as well as 900 slots from overseas. The auction also includes a 50 per cent stake in its subsidiary, Air India Express, which provides cheap services, and AISATS, a common unit for cargo and passenger loading and unloading. The situation has become thin due to the total accumulated tax burden of Rs 60,000 crore on the company. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep singh Puri had said last month that there is no other way than to privatize Air India or shut it down. September. The government is selling its whole 100 percent stake in Air India.

 

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