Decks are almost cleared  in the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines,  with the legal nod coming anytime now, V Thulasidas, chairman and managing director of the unified entity said here on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of top officials of the civil aviation ministry chaired by minister Praful Patel, the CMD said, “We are awaiting the formal order from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The order is expected any time now”.
Ministry sources said that the formal order could be expected after certain legal formalities are fulfiled.
The objections of the unions are understood to have been rejected. Though the legal process is yet to be completed, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has approved the merger. Noting that there was no time-frame set for the merger to operationalise completely, he said it may take up to two years. The CMD said there would be three base models after the merger — Air India, Air India Express and Air India Cargo. AIE would continue to be the low cost carrier, which would also fly on domestic routes while its international operations would continue.
Noting that about 34,000 employees would remain in the combined airline which will have 112 aircraft, Thulasidas said a lot of ground would be covered by the summer of next year.
To enquiries on the initial public offer, the CMD said that it would be floated after the complete merger of the airline.