Government To Release Rs 1,500 Crore To Air India Next Week
The fund release is part of an equity infusion under the carrier’s turnaround plan, according to a senior official.
The government will release Rs 1,500 crore to Air India next week as part of equity infusion under the turnaround plan, a senior official said today.
A civil aviation ministry official said parliament has approved Rs 2,345 crore equity infusion into the debt-laden national carrier under the second batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants 2018-19.
He said the government would release Rs 1,500 crore to the airline next week. This would be out of the Rs 2,345-crore approved supplementary grant.
When asked whether the ministry has sought more funds for Air India as part of the upcoming interim Budget, the official replied in the negative.
The government has decided to transfer debt worth Rs 29,000 crore to Air India Asset Holding Company, a special purpose vehicle, to revive the financial fortunes of the national carrier.
The airline has debt worth around Rs 55,000 crore. Air India is staying afloat on a bailout package extended by the previous UPA regime. The carrier is to receive up to Rs 30,231 crore from the government subject to meeting certain performance thresholds. The 10-year bailout package began in 2012.