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New entity `Air India' from July 15: Patel

Special Correspondent

Praful Patel

NEW DELHI: Adorning the brand name of Air India after its merger with Indian , a new entity on the Indian and global civil aviation skies will come into existence from July 15.

"Newly designed livery has been sent to the U.S. for being painted on the new aircraft of Air India which will be delivered some time in June and from July 15 you will have a new merged, strong carrier of India serving the domestic and international sectors," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said here on Thursday.

He said that issues relating to ticketing on international and domestic sectors have been resolved and a traveller to or from India would be able to purchase tickets to any of the sectors served by the new carrier.

Though the entire process of merger would take about a year-and-a-half to be completed, the new entity would start raking in benefits right from the beginning. Citing an example, he said that an analysis of route rationalisation of Air India and Indian showed that on the India-Kuwait sector alone the merged entity would gain by Rs. 80 crores annually.

Mr. Patel said the real impact of the merged airline, to be headed by a Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) as decided by the Cabinet, would be felt after new aircraft, 43 of Indian and 68 of Air India, joined the fleet in a phased manner, taking the total number of aircraft to 115.

He said the new civil aviation policy, dwelling upon the theme of `Vision 2020', has been sent to the Union Cabinet for its approval. On the issue of rising prices of the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), Mr. Patel said that he favoured entry of new players in the field and said that the Petroleum Ministry has already permitted Reliance, Essar and Shell to market ATF at some of the airports. "What is the harm if airlines get better service and prices through increased competition?" he asked.

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