Revival board keen to help Air India

The Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises wants to examine the grave financial problems of Air India, but neither the Civil Aviation Ministry nor the national carrier has responded to the BRPSE offer.

"We have requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation that we would like to study Air India. They have not yet replied," BRPSE chairman Nitish Sengupta told PTI.

Sengupta said the BRPSE would send a reminder to both the National Aviation Company of India Ltd (the company that owns Air India) and the Civil Aviation Ministry.

BRPSE, the high-level board under the Department of Public Enterprises, helps the sick PSUs in their revival.

Air India, which suffered Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) loss during 2008-09, is believed to have sought a bail-out package of Rs 14,000 crore (Rs 140 billion) from the government.

However, the government which owns the carrier would like the airline to bring expenses under control before it is given any financial assistance.

Meanwhile about 24,000 unionised staff of Air India have threatened to go on agitation, if their salaries are delayed.