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Our Bureau

New Delhi , Feb. 1

THE Government plans to earmark a portion of the proposed initial public offer (IPO) of Air India (AI) and Indian Airlines (IA) to the employees of the two airlines, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, said on Tuesday.

"We want to keep a portion of the IPO for the employees. We want them to be involved in their future.

"We plan to dilute the equity without diluting the public sector character of the two airlines," Mr Patel said in an informal interaction with reporters.

While no date or quantum of the amount that is to be divested has been decided as yet, the Minister said that the IPO would definitely be out during the next financial year (2005-06).

On the open skies policies, Mr Patel said IA would begin its flights to Europe during the coming winter season.

Globally, the winter schedule of airlines is from October-end to March-end.

The private airlines, however, are not very happy with the distribution of flights between India and the UK. Air Sahara said on Tuesday that the distribution of flights on this route between Jet Airways and itself is not equitable.

"There should be equitable distribution of flights between us and Jet Airways. We are as prepared as Jet Airways," the airline President, Mr Rono Dutta, said. Airline officials felt that the Government should consider the strength of the airline in the region where it operates, while deciding on the number of flights to be allocated.

The comments come a day after the Government allowed Jet Airways and Air Sahara to operate seven flights and two flights a week respectively between India and London.

In addition, Air India was also allowed to operate three flights a week between India and Birmingham.

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