'Banks should do banking business, not run airlines'

AIBEA has decided to write to the government and RBI against infusing money into Jet Airways. State-owned banks, including SBI and PNB, are the main lenders to Jet.

The All India Bank Employees’ Union (AIBEA) will write to the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) against the decision of the consortium of lenders to infuse additional money into Jet Airways.

C H Venkatachalam, AIBEA general secretary, said the decision was taken at the bank employees union’s central committee meet on Thursday.

It will also write to the Ministry of Finance.

Venkatachalam said banks should not become owners of Jet and that running the airline was the business of the company and its management.

“It is unwarranted. The bank should recall the loan and get out of it,” he said, adding that the next course of action will be taken based on the response of the government and the regulator.

He said the airline should pay back the loans but, “on the contrary, it is being reported that the shares of Jet Airways are sought to be dumped on the shoulders of the banks.

"Even Ethihad Airlines wants its shares to be purchased by the banks.”

State-owned banks, including State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank, are the main lenders to Jet.

“When Jet Airways was profitable, the profits went to the owners.

"Now, when it is running losses, why should public money and the banks’ money be used to save them?

"We oppose these moves. Banks should do banking business, not run airlines," said Venkatachalam.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters