Jet, Air France-KLM, Delta consortium to bid for Air India

A consortium of Jet Airways, Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines is understood to have expressed interest in the disinvestment of flag carrier Air India, sources have said.

Moving ahead with the strategic disinvestment of loss-making Air India, the government is expected to soon invite Expression of Interest (EoI) from the bidders.

Against this backdrop, sources said that a consortium of three full service carriers, including Jet Airways, are keen to put in their bid for Air India.

Jet Airways along with Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines are interested in participating in Air India disinvestment, sources said.

Jet Airways' possible bid for Air India by way of a consortium also comes less than four months after the Naresh Goyal-led airline enhanced cooperation agreement with the Air France-KLM Group.

Interestingly, Jet Airways Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube had a decade-long career at Delta Air Lines before joining Jet Airways last year. Immediately before coming to Jet Airways, he was Senior Vice President (Asia Pacific) at the American carrier.

Air France-KLM and its partners Delta and Alitalia operate the largest Trans-Atlantic joint-venture with over 270 daily flights.

Though Air India is saddled with huge debt, acquiring the airline can help boost the acquirer in terms of foot print and bilateral rights.

New 777 delivered

Meanwhile, Air India has taken delivery of its 23rd and the last Boeing 777 plane, which can be used for ultra-long haul routes, and thus also completing its 68 aircraft orders placed with the American aircraft manufacturing giant more than a decade ago.