Delta, KLM-Air France reportedly keen on Air India bid
A global airline consortium led by Delta Air Lines is said to be in talks to take over debt-ridden.
The Indian government is preparing the disinvestment process for the state owned carrier and is close to announcing the opening of Expressions of Interest from serious bidders.
News agency PTI reports Delta and its partners Jet Airways and Air France-KLM are keen to submit a bid, according to people in the know.
India based Jet Airways has strategic ties with both Delta and Air France-KLM, and its CEO Vinay Dube is a former Delta executive.
Leveraging Delta’s financial clout is perhaps the only way Jet Airways could seal a deal for Air India which has racked up large debts and has hugely bloated workforce.
Mainline brand Air India and low-cost arm Air India Express will be sold off as one entity, and the access it provides to international slots would be attractive for any bidder.
AI’s engineering and ground handling units will be sold off separately.
India’s largest carrier low cost IndiGo has already expressed its interest along with an unnamed foreign airline.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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