Indian air carriers should have professional management: Minister

Airlines in India should have a professional team for better management, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs M. Veerappa Moily said here Tuesday.

When queried about bailing out national carrier Air India, Moily told reporters: "In my personal opinion, we should have professional management in civil aviation for better performance."

He said the government is interested in making the airlines survive as building such a business is not easy.

According to him, strategies have to be evolved - like import of aviation turbine fuel - to help the airlines survive.

On the allocation of second generation (2G) spectrum/radio waves to telecom companies that had been struck down by the Supreme Court recently, Moily said the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government followed the system of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government.

Moily ruled out the government going in appeal against the apex court's order of cancelling 122 telecom spectrum licences.

Queried on the cancellation of Antrix Corporation-Devas Multimedia deal, he said the prime minister had cancelled the deal soon after the law ministry gave its opinion.

He said his ministry is looking at introduction of National Competition Policy, the new Companies Bill and a National Corporate Governance Policy.

Moily said the new competition policy can address various issues including inflation, building supply chain capability and others.

The new companies bill is expected to be made into a law in the ensuing budget session of Parliament.