Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in an interview has said the government is confident that its efforts to sell Air India will be successful this time.
Puri has said the airline won’t be shut down and exuded confidence that investor response would be favourable, considering Air India’s robust service network on both domestic and international routes, besides its strong brand recall. He has also said that the government wants an Indian entity to acquire it for strategic objectives.
In his words privatization was the only way forward for the debt-laden airline. Though he has declined to comment on the government’s expectations of how much the proposed sale might get. The government will make money but it does not want to give it on a sizzling platter.
He has said many airlines as well as private companies have shown interest in the sale of Air India but due to the economic slowdown it has not been possible till now.
Puri further commented that the privatization process had already been set in motion.
