Air India divestment may see global participation, says aviation consulting firm CAPA

Jet’s exit may raise chance of success.

CAPA’s idea for successful privatisation of AI includes easing the requirement of the buyer to keep the brand intact.

A second attempt at disinvestment of Air India is likely to see strong interest from private players, including participation from leading global airlines such as those from the Gulf, according to aviation consulting firm CAPA.

There is a likelihood of international entities seeking to form joint ventures with Indian companies to bid for Air India to comply with norms that cap foreign direct investment into the national carrier at 49%.

Increased valuation

The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has recommended that the government allow FDI for a higher number of bidders and increased valuation for Air India.

This will be necessary as major Indian corporations from outside aviation may not have the appetite to invest in a complex project without an experienced strategic partner, it noted.

The exit of Jet Airways, Air India’s biggest full-service competitor, from the market has further enhanced the chances of a successful disinvestment this time. “CAPA has long maintained that the Indian market can only sustain two full-service carriers, and that the operation of three such airlines – Air India, Jet Airways and Vistara – was not sustainable.”

However, the remote chances of a revival of Jet Airways, along with the “current global and national economic environment and geopolitical instability” may dampen investor sentiment, CAPA warned.

The aviation consultancy reiterated what it considered were key factors to ensure a successful attempt at privatisation of the national carrier. These include: the government exiting completely from the airline, allowing the new owner flexibility in dealing with Air India’s employees and easing the requirement of the ‘Air India’ brand being kept intact by its buyer.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri told Parliament that the government may launch its second attempt to privatise the national carrier before the end of August.

An earlier attempt last year failed to yield any interest, with no entity coming forward to bid for Air India.