INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Air India has about 9,400 permanent staff and 4,200 contract workers.Country's state-run airline Air India will have to cease operations
if it is not privatised, Hardeep Singh Puri, junior minister for civil aviation said in parliament on Wednesday, in response to a lawmaker's
question on the subject.A group of officials, including home and finance ministers, is finalising the process of inviting bids from the
private sector for the loss-making national carrier.The company has lucrative landing slots in India and across the world, but has been a
burden on the exchequer for years.Officials are still deliberating over some details, said Mr Puri.Once they are finalised, the government
will invite bids, he said, adding that India is committed to selling the company.Last year it failed to attract any bidders when it tried to
is open to selling the airline in its entirety, Mr Puri said in a written response to a separate question in parliament today.It is also
significantly reducing its debt to make it more attractive.One of the biggest hurdles however is its large number of employees - Air India
has about 9,400 permanent staff and 4,200 contract workers.Mr Puri said in parliament that the government is committed to securing a deal
that is favourable for the employees."The government is committed to the strategic disinvestment of Air India," Mr Puri said in a written
response to a further question in parliament on the same subject on Wednesday."Any further financial support in a mature and competitive
aviation market would not be the best use of scarce financial resources of the government," he added."Air India would have a status on a par
with other designated carriers of India, post-disinvestment," he said.Get Breaking news, live coverage, and Latest News from India and
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