AI seeks Rs 2,400 cr guarantee from govt

The development comes at a time when the government is in the process of finalising the contours for divestment of debt-laden Air India.

The official said the airline has asked for Rs 2,400 crore sovereign guarantee in order to raise money to mainly meet its operational requirements.

On Nov 27, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri told the Rajya Sabha that interests of Air India employees would be protected and there would be no job loss till its privatisation.

“Your airlines would have to be closed down, unless not privatised,” he had said. Air India’s net loss in 2018-19 is provisionally estimated to be Rs 8,556.35 crore.

The Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) has approved re-initiation of process for the sale of the government’s 100 per cent stake in Air India along with Air India Express and the carrier’s stake in joint venture AISATS.

The national carrier received an equity infusion of Rs 30,520.21 crore from financial year 2011-12 till date, the government said on December 5.