<p>The proposed airline venture of the Tatas and Singapore Airlines (SIA) is likely to be launched by May-June next year, with the two companies today expressing hopes of getting quick governmental clearances for the new carrier.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We are looking at very fast clearances. We hope that we will be able to launch by May-June," said Tata SIA Chairman Prasad Menon, who accompanied Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata and SIA chief Goh Choon Phong for a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh here.<br /><br />Maintaining that the entry of Tata-SIA would benefit the Indian aviation sector, the minister said he did not see any problems in the proposed carrier getting clearances.<br /><br />"I don't see any problems. DGCA will have to be satisfied. There are issues relating to fleet, parking space, slots and routes. It depends on how fast they (Tata-SIA) provide all those data and documents," Singh said.<br /><br />The meeting came a day after the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) gave its green signal to the Tata-SIA proposal to start a full-service airline entailing an initial foreign investment of USD 49 million. Tata Sons will invest USD 51 million in the joint venture.<br /><br />Complimenting the minister for "opening up the aviation sector in a really global manner", Tata said "It is our responsibility to make him proud" and the Tata Sons' airline venture with SIA was "a great opportunity" towards that end.<br /><br />This is the Tatas' second venture in the aviation sector after its tie-up with Malaysian carrier Air Asia in February for a low-cost passenger air service in the country.<br /><br />Maintaining that "the new airline will provide premium (full-frill) service", Tata said he was excited about FIPB approval and added that a lot of hard work needed to be put in to launch the carrier.</p>
<p>The proposed airline venture of the Tatas and Singapore Airlines (SIA) is likely to be launched by May-June next year, with the two companies today expressing hopes of getting quick governmental clearances for the new carrier.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We are looking at very fast clearances. We hope that we will be able to launch by May-June," said Tata SIA Chairman Prasad Menon, who accompanied Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata and SIA chief Goh Choon Phong for a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh here.<br /><br />Maintaining that the entry of Tata-SIA would benefit the Indian aviation sector, the minister said he did not see any problems in the proposed carrier getting clearances.<br /><br />"I don't see any problems. DGCA will have to be satisfied. There are issues relating to fleet, parking space, slots and routes. It depends on how fast they (Tata-SIA) provide all those data and documents," Singh said.<br /><br />The meeting came a day after the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) gave its green signal to the Tata-SIA proposal to start a full-service airline entailing an initial foreign investment of USD 49 million. Tata Sons will invest USD 51 million in the joint venture.<br /><br />Complimenting the minister for "opening up the aviation sector in a really global manner", Tata said "It is our responsibility to make him proud" and the Tata Sons' airline venture with SIA was "a great opportunity" towards that end.<br /><br />This is the Tatas' second venture in the aviation sector after its tie-up with Malaysian carrier Air Asia in February for a low-cost passenger air service in the country.<br /><br />Maintaining that "the new airline will provide premium (full-frill) service", Tata said he was excited about FIPB approval and added that a lot of hard work needed to be put in to launch the carrier.</p>