How Air India disinvestment is unfolding: Four foreign carriers may bid

As far as the employees clause goes, there is only a one-year lock-in period, post which the government has adopted the same approach as it has for every other disinvestment

The government is optimistic on the sale of Air India despite prospective Indian airline bidders apparently withdrawing one after the other from the race.

It appears that at least four international carriers — British Airways, Lufthansa, Etihad and Singapore Airlines (SIA) — are interested in the stake sale. All these foreign carriers are scouting for an Indian partner that meets the net worth criterion since the majority holding needs to be with an Indian player. 

Emirates has not yet evinced any interest, according to sources. As the sources see it, the “constraint, as of now, is the Indian partner, not