Air India acquisition by Tata Group good for state-run carrier's future: Praful Patel

Former civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Saturday welcomed the acquisition of Air India by the Tata group terming it a "good step" for the future of the state-run carrier. Tata Sons will retake Air India - the airline it founded nearly 90 years back - as the government accepted its winning bid of Rs 18,000 crore to acquire 100 per cent of the debt-laden state-run carrier.

Speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport, Patel supported the privatisation of Air India and said, "Tata group taking over Air India is a good step for the future of Air India," he said.