Government may hire global executives for Air India: Suresh Prabhu

NEW DELHI: The govt plans to rope in pros for most sensible positions at Air India through a global seek procedure, as part of efforts to restore the nationwide provider, in line with civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu. With the proposed strategic stake sale of the Air India failing to take off in May this 12 months, the government has been working on quite a lot of projects, including hiving off a significant chunk of over Rs 55,000 crore debt into a different purpose automobile, to turn-around the in poor health airline.

Against this backdrop, the government is now actively considering the proposal to professionalise Air India management.

Talking about steps for reviving the nationwide airline, Prabhu said there are plans for complete professionalisation.

"I have already ordered a global search for professionalisaton of Air India completely. All top positions in Air India should be filled by some sort of a global search. That proposal is now under active consideration of the government," the minister told in an interview.

A supply in the know said the government plans to arrange a seek committee that would search for aviation pros from the world over who can delivered to Air India.

Currently, the nationwide provider -- which is staying afloat on taxpayers' money -- has nine participants at the board, including two officers from the civil aviation ministry.

The chairman and managing director is senior IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola whilst two widely known businessmen -- ITC chairman Y C Deveshwar and Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla -- are impartial directors at the board.

Ravinder Kumar Tyagi, Syed Zafar Islam, Daggubati Purandeswari are the opposite impartial directors.

Air India director (finance) Vinod Hejmadi in addition to civil aviation ministry's additional secretary Gargi Kaul and joint secretary Satyendra Kumar Mishra are also part of the board.

Prabhu said debt is likely one of the largest problems for revival of Air India, adding that the civil aviation ministry is already working with the finance ministry to deal with the issue.

The provider is estimated to have a debt burden of over Rs 55,000 crore and about Rs 29,000 crore is to be transferred into an special purpose automobile.

On December 27, the civil aviation ministry told the Lok Sabha that the government has prepared a revival plan for Air India.

A complete financial bundle, including transfer of non-core debt and belongings to a different purpose automobile, implementation of sturdy organisational and governance reforms through the board and differentiated business methods for each and every of the core businesses of Air India are part of the plan.

"Higher levels of operational efficiency by strengthening management and implementing best business processes" are a number of the main components of the plan.