June 29,2017:

National Carrier has a total debt of around Rs 50,000 crore and an annual interest outgo Rs 4,500 crore.

On Wednesday, Cabinet gave in-principle approval for the “disinvestment” of  the debt-laden Air India, making its intent to sell airline rather clear for the first time.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stated that,"Final modalities, including quantum of the stake sale, would be decided by a Group of Ministers".But he did not mention  whether National Carrier will be privatised.
A nagging drain on exchequer for long, it is thus surviving on a 2012 bailout package, under which it has so far received Rs 24,000 crore.

A third of carrier’s aircraft loan is guaranteed by Government.

Lenders to carrier have in informal talks with Government expressed their willingness to negotiate with Government on how to settle AI loans including the re-setting interest rates to accommodate Government’s plan.

Civil Aviation Ministry had internally made a rough estimate of value of AI’s physical assets at around Rs 25,000-30,000 crore. These assets included its 115-strong Aircraft fleet (including the Boeing Dreamliners), the land parcels, the buildings and also its valuable flying/landing rights and the parking slots at airports across the world.

Government could quit AI by end-March 2018 and transfer it to the new Private-Sector Owner.

Last month the NITI Aayog in its report recommended divestment of the Air India by hiving off its profit-making subsidiaries initially.

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