Maharaja set for take-off: Tatas get control of Air India, after 7 decades

Sources said that the Tata group plans to operate both in full service and low cost segments

The Tata Group on Thursday regained ownership of Air India, 69 years after the airline was nationalised. The salt-to-software conglomerate promised to turn the loss-making carrier into a world-class airline.

The handover has come as a culmination of the government’s attempt to transfer the ownership of the loss-making airline to a private owner. The airline never made profit since its merger with Indian Airlines in 2007-08 and reported a loss of Rs 7,017 crore in FY21.

The acquisition gives Tatas 100 per cent ownership in Air India, its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express and 50 per cent stake in ground handling firm