New Delhi-based Bird Group has expressed interest in bidding for Air India, but no foreign airline or investor has come forward as yet, Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey said at an aviation conference organised here on Wednesday by Assocham.
“The Bird Group has given a letter (showing interest in Air India),” he said.
A spokesperson of the group confirmed to BusinessLine it is interested in bidding for Air India Transport Services Ltd, the national carrier’s ground handling subsidiary.
“When Air India came up for divestment we recommended that they uncork value by selling the subsidiaries separately. We are keen to bid for the ground handling subsidiary,” the spokesperson added.
Delhi-based low-cost airline IndiGo is the other entity which has shown an interest in bidding for Air India. IndiGo too is interested in only one unit — Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost arm.
The Union Cabinet gave its nod for divestment of Air India on June 28. The Centre is keen to complete the process at the earliest.