No disinvestment of Air India: Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi

NEW DELHI: Government today ruled out disinvestment of Air India saying it is trying to bring the cash strapped national carrier to 'no-profit, no-loss' status.

"There is no plan of disinvestment in Air India or to bring an IPO in the near future by the government. As a Civil Aviation Minister my first priority is to bring Air India in no-profit no-loss," Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said on the sidelines of a two-day international seminar.

The minister said that the Group of Ministers would meet soon to discuss the national carrier's health.

Addressing the seminar organised by the Air Traffic Control Guild here to mark the 100 year of Civil Aviation in India, Ravi said that government would soon look into the proposals and the recommendations of various committees and commissions for improving the work environment of ATC as per the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

He also assured that as per the ICAO recommendation, the government is planning to separate air traffic control from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

"The government is contemplating delinking of air traffic control operations from airport operations of the AAI," Ravi said, adding a decision in the regard would be taken soon.

Presently, air traffic management and communication navigation and surveillance are under the reigns of AAI.

Stressing on the need to increase air connectivity in the country, Ravi said, "India is 9th largest market in the sector and fourth in terms number of passengers after the US, China and Japan but I feel air connectivity is not up to the mark."

The connectivity among metros is good but vast areas of the country are not yet connected. There is a need for medium airports for better connectivity," the Minister said.