Kochi: The applause died long back but the State government has not yet made good its promise to stake claim over the budget carrier Air India Express (AIE).
Almost two months ago, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy won over an audience of largely Middle-East-based Non Resident Keralites at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas with a statement of intent.
It now seems Mr. Chandy’s plan B — a stake in AIE — was an escape route to wriggle out of a tight spot when Plan A — Kerala’s proposed Air Kerala — nosedived after Centre refused to relax norms.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal was noncommittal when asked about the probability of conceding a claim of stake by the State government. He said he viewed the State government’s interest in AIE “positively” while underlining the fact that AIE remained a fully owned subsidiary of Air India, the national carrier.
“The possibility of such a proposal could be explored. But it’s extremely premature at this stage to say anything about it, as discussions have to be held at the very highest level,” he told The Hindu.
An aviation official, who has been in the industry for over a decade, pointed out that AIE remains a fully owned subsidiary of Air India, which is a centrally owned public sector unit.
02/03/13 MP Praveen/The Hindu
