PM clears AI-IA merger plan, carrier will be in global top 25

New Delhi: The Civil Aviation Ministry today got the go-ahead from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to prepare a detailed plan for merger of Indian Airlines and Air India that can be brought before the Cabinet in two months.
In a select presentation to the PM today, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel listed three possibilities—synergy, holding company and merger—while backing the last option. Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Air India CMD V Thulasidas and Indian Airlines CMD V P Trivedi were present at the meeting.
A merged national carrier, the PM was told, will break into the top 25 airlines of the world and would be ranked eighth in Asia-Pacific. With all the planned acquisitions taken into account, the merged airline will have a fleet of 150 aircraft that will put it way ahead of what Jet Airways aspires through its proposed acquisition of Air Sahara.
In fact, the calculation is that it may even grow bigger than Singapore Airlines and Emirates. 23/03/06 Pranab Dhal Samanta/Indian Express

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