India’s Airlines Set to Merge

NEW DELHI, 3 March 2007 — India’s two state-owned airlines will merge within four months as part of a bid to create a major global aviation player, the government announced yesterday. “One company with one name, one brand, one logo, one code and single financials is expected to be in place within the coming 16 weeks,” Aviation Minister Praful Patel told Parliament. “It is our objective to create a world class airline,” he said.

The announcement came after the Cabinet earlier this week cleared plans to combine international flag carrier Air-India and domestic airline Indian Airlines.