The Hindu Business Line : `Govt won't get involved in AI, Airbus tussle'

THE Ministry of Civil Aviation will not get involved in the war of words between Air India (AI) and the European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, over the national carrier's decision to purchase 50 aircraft from Boeing.

"We will not get involved at all. Why should we when there are institutionalised procedures for these things," the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, told newspersons here. Senior Government officials added that AI had informed the Government of the allegations made by Airbus.

A day after the AI board decided on April 26 to go with Boeing, the Airbus' Vice-President, Sales, Indian Sub-continent and South Asia, Mr Nigel Harwood, called for sending all the papers connected with the acquisition deal to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

"We are questioning how the evaluation was done. We feel it was not fair and are astonished at the decision. It is a massive blow to us. We hope to have a meeting with AI and will try and call its board members. We trust that the Government will look at the entire process in a dispassionate manner," Mr Harwood had said.

The AI board had approved a proposal to purchase 50 Boeing aircraft, including 27 Boeing 787 aircraft in a deal valued at more than $6 billion.

The Government has already asked the CVC to examine the multi-billion dollar 43-Airbus aircraft fleet acquisition plan of Indian Airlines.

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