No plans for Air India disinvestment: Vayalar Ravi

New Delhi: The Government has ruled out any disinvestment plans for state-owned Air India, saying its priority was to restore the cash-strapped national carrier to a 'no-profit, no-loss' status. Speaking on Thursday, the minister for civil aviation, Vyalar Ravi, also said air connectivity in the country still needs to be enhanced.

"There is no plan of disinvestment in Air India or to bring an IPO in the near future by the government. As a civil aviation minister my first priority is to bring Air India to no-profit no-loss," Vayalar Ravi said on the side lines of a two-day international seminar.

Ravi also mentioned that a group of ministers (GoM) would meet soon to discuss the carrier's future.

Addressing a seminar organised by the Air Traffic Control Guild here to mark 100 years of civil aviation in India, Ravi said the government would act upon proposals and recommendations of various committees and commissions appointed to improve the air traffic control operations according to International Civil Aviation Organisation benchmarks.

He also said the government would separate air traffic control operations from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as per the recommendations of the ICAO.

"The government is contemplating delinking of air traffic control operations from airport operations of the AAI," Ravi said, adding a decision in the regard would be taken soon.