Jet Airways chief says Air India privatisation on his radar

Jet Airways is not ruling out looking at the sale of loss-making national carrier Air India, its chairman said, although he remains focused on his own airline. "We are looking at our own business,” Naresh Goyal said in an interview in Manchester, England. “But I am not saying that we will not look at Air India, I’ve never said that. Ultimately we will always see what is the best approach ahead of us, and for the country.”

Jet’s comments come after IndiGo, the only airline to have publicly shown interest in buying parts of Air India, said it’s no longer keen on the airline, which has been put on the block after a taxpayer-funded bailout failed to stem losses. A successful conclusion is crucial for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cement his credentials as a proponent of free markets.

Goyal said the Air India plan is “a brave and very good decision” for India, predicting that the process will ultimately prove successful. The government proposes to sell 76 per cent of Air India and 100 per cent of Air India Express, the overseas budget unit — all to the same buyer.