IndiGo shows interest in buying Air India

Jun 30, 2017: Hours after the government gave in-principle approval for “disinvestment” of debt-ridden Air India, low cost carrier IndiGo submitted its expression of interest (EoI) for the airline.

IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh wrote to aviation authorities, saying his airline is interested in buying the international operations of AI and AI Express. “We are equally interested in acquiring all of the airline operations of Air India and Air India Express," InterGlobe President Aditya Ghosh said in the letter, a copy of which was sent to the stock exchange.

Aviation minister Jayant Sinha said the LCC's EoI was the first "unsolicited" formal offer for AI. "A number of domestic and international players have informally approached us to show interest in AI. IndiGo is the first one to do so formally," Sinha said.

Acording to sources, Ghosh's EoI to aviation ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Jayant Sinha and secretary R N Choubey speaks about India being a strong aviation market where IndiGo is the largest domestic player. His letter is attached to a detailed presentation on IndiGo's strengths as an Indian carrier.