New Delhi: Amid concerns expressed over control at its two airline ventures, the Tata group today said it does not need certificate from anybody on whether the conglomerate has the right to be in the aviation business.
"If anybody has the right to be in aviation it is Tata (group). We can easily claim that 75 years back when we were just going (with airline business), we got nationalised. How fair is that?," a senior Tata group official said.
Old players under the banner of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) have raised concerns over ownership and control at AirAsia India and Vistara -- the two startup carriers where Tata group has substantial stakes. FIA -- comprising Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir -- have also opposed any relaxations in the 5/20 overseas flying norm, which Vistara and AirAsia India have been seeking.
Under the rule, only carriers with at least five years of operational experience and a minimum of 20 planes can fly overseas. This makes Vistara and AirAsia India ineligible to operate international flights. "... Tatas were pioneers of aviation. We do not need a certificate from anybody to tell us whether we have a right to belong here or not," the official said.
In budget airline AirAsia India, a joint venture with Malaysias AirAsia, Tata Sons would be hiking its shareholding to 49 per cent from the current nearly over 41 per cent.
29/03/16 PTI/India Today
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"If anybody has the right to be in aviation it is Tata (group). We can easily claim that 75 years back when we were just going (with airline business), we got nationalised. How fair is that?," a senior Tata group official said.
Old players under the banner of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) have raised concerns over ownership and control at AirAsia India and Vistara -- the two startup carriers where Tata group has substantial stakes. FIA -- comprising Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir -- have also opposed any relaxations in the 5/20 overseas flying norm, which Vistara and AirAsia India have been seeking.
Under the rule, only carriers with at least five years of operational experience and a minimum of 20 planes can fly overseas. This makes Vistara and AirAsia India ineligible to operate international flights. "... Tatas were pioneers of aviation. We do not need a certificate from anybody to tell us whether we have a right to belong here or not," the official said.
In budget airline AirAsia India, a joint venture with Malaysias AirAsia, Tata Sons would be hiking its shareholding to 49 per cent from the current nearly over 41 per cent.
29/03/16 PTI/India Today
