Air India would be closed if not privatized: Civil Aviation Minister in RS

NEW DELHI: Loss-making Air India will have to be closed down if not privatized, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and said the Government is committed to secure a favourable deal for all employees of the state-owned carrier.

The Government is in the process of finalizing invitation of bids, he said, adding interests of employees of the state-owned carrier Air India would be protected and there would be no job loss till its privatization.

“Your airlines would have to be closed down if not privatized,” Puri said while replying to a supplementary question.

“… The process of disinvestment is underway. The issue of getting bids will arise only after we complete the processing. So far, the alternative mechanism, under the chairmanship of the Home Minister, has been made,” he said. (AGENCIES)