Air India's performance has improved in recent times and "many parties are jealous about its success", Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey today said and asserted that there is no stake sale plan for the carrier.
His assertion comes amid reports suggesting that the government might be looking to offload stake in Air India, which is in the red.
"There is not any divestment plan for Air India. False rumours are being spread by those who are jealous. Many parties are jealous about Air India's success," Choubey said.
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Speaking at the pre-launch function for Air India's non-stop Delhi-Vienna flight, Choubey noted that the carrier has improved "its performance in recent times".
The Delhi-Vienna flight launch will be on April 6. It will fly three times a week.
Air India is expected to cut its losses by 40 per cent to Rs 3,529.80 crore in the last financial year, which ended on March 31.
In 2014-15, the airline had a net loss of Rs 5,859.91 crore.
The airline is surviving on a Rs 30,231 crore bailout package extended by the previous UPA government in 2012. The Turnaround Plan (TAP) runs till March 2021.
In the 2016-17 Budget, Air India has been allocated Rs 1,713 crore as part of the Rs 30,0231 crore financial bailout package.
Lohani said the carrier was enhancing the number of
planes in its subsidiary, Alliance Air, by inducting ATR planes.
He said that it will help in enhancing connectivity from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and also boost tourism in the state.
On the issue of stopping Pune flight, he said since the airport in that city was with the Air Force, the latter had denied permission for it and therefore it was stopped.
Efforts are on to get nod for Pune operations, he said.
The CMD also stated that the carrier was mulling to connect Bhopal with Kolkata, Raipur, Indore, Jaipur and Delhi and also Bhopal with Indore and Ahmedabad.
"We are also planning to take Hyderabad flight up to Bangalore by October-November end," he said.
Replying to a question about the quality of Air India staff, he said they were "good" and added that recruitment process was on in the airline.
On the issue of recent technical snags in the carrier at Bhopal, Lohani admitted that error occurred but added that they were under control now.
