Reportedly Air india said that the issues regarding aviation fuel payments are being sorted out with the state run oil companies and they would be resolved early. Meanwhile the statement comes days after oil PSUs (public sector units) in a letter to the national carrier warned of ending fuel supplies at six major airports from October 18, if the latter did not make the lump sum payments as had been agreed upon.
Furthermore the Air india spokesperson also said that there is no reason for the passengers to be concerned as it has taken steps to ensure there is no flight disruption. Further Ashwani Lohani, the CMD of Air India, issued a statement at the time claiming that this action by the three state owned oil companies, Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum does not have any bearing on the airlines’ day to day operation nor the plans afoot to revive the organization.
Moreover this comes at a time when the government is inviting bids for 100% privatization of the airline and the committee includes has Amit Shah, the Home Minister at its helm with the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri and the Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal as its members. Perhaps he panel has already had its first meeting and is likely to clear the expression of interest document in its next meeting to set the ball rolling.
