Contrary to recent news reports, the Ras Al Khaimah government has denied that it was part of the bidding consortium for Air India.
“The Ras Al Khaimah government is aware of a story circulating in the international and local media of a potential transaction relating to Air India, the national air carrier of India, with the reports citing that one of the parties involved is a Ras Al Khaimah government institution. Neither the Ras Al Khaimah government nor any of its related entities or authorities are in any way connected to any such potential transaction relating to Air India," Gulf News reported citing a Ras Al Khaimah government official spokesperson.
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Last week, news reports had suggested that a new consortium, led by SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh, Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and Delhi-based Bird Group's Ankur Bhatia have joined the race to bid for 100 per cent stake in Air India.
Meanwhile, the Central government is looking to hasten the bidding process of the debt-ridden airline. Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently said that the airline will have a new owner by May-end. The government has been trying to shed the loss-making entity off its shoulder since 2019. But the divestment process was delayed by the government's strict rules at first and later, by the pandemic.
