Air India sale: A previously rejected plan resurfaces as a fall-back option

The fall-back option under discussion is to allow Air India Express to raise money through the market by listing on the bourses

Stoic acceptance has replaced dogged resistance at national carrier Air India (AI) as the airline’s 12,000-odd employees await their fate. In fact, as the months have rolled on, certain employee categories — in particular the pilots and technically qualified staff — who are fed up with the status quo (no motivation, sharp cut in salaries and a general air of defeat) would rather the airline moves into the hands of own­ers who can resuscitate it and deliver them a better future.

The airline is now expected to be sold by September to one of the two bidders who have expressed