Air India, which is 74.9% owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata Sons and 25.1% by Singapore Airlines (SIA), has requested at least 100 billion rupees ($1.1 billion) in financial support from its shareholders, according to a Bloomberg report. This move comes amid a series of critical challenges, including the impact of a recent fatal air accident and a drop in revenue caused by operational restrictions.
A Rescue Package to Sustain Restructuring
According to sources close to the matter, the aid plan aims to finance the comprehensive modernization of Air India’s systems and services, as well as the development of in-house engineering and maintenance departments.
These initiatives are part of an effort to strengthen the airline’s operational infrastructure, which currently relies on AI Engineering Services, a state-owned entity providing technical support.
The sources indicated that the requested funding would be distributed proportionally to the shareholdings of Tata and SIA, although it has not yet been decided whether it will be an interest-free loan or a capital injection.
To date, none of the spokespersons for Tata Sons, Air India, or Singapore Airlines has issued official comments on the request.
→ Air India Negotiates Purchase of Up to 300 New Aircraft
Profitability Out of Reach
The goal of reaching operational break-even before March of next year has become increasingly distant.
The situation reflects the difficulties of operating in the competitive Indian aviation market, where multiple airlines have exited the sector after exhausting their financial resources.
Currently, InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo, is the only profitable domestic airline, with over a 64% market share.
Impact of Border Conflict and Ahmedabad Accident
Air India’s prospects began to deteriorate in June when air restrictions imposed after a May border clash with Pakistan forced the company to extend the routes of its westbound non-stop flights, increasing operational costs.
The crisis worsened on June 12, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, resulting in the death of all occupants except one.
The accident triggered a nationwide safety audit by India’s aviation regulator, leading Air India to reduce its international wide-body flights by 15% between June and August, severely impacting its revenue.
SIA Reinforces its Operational Role
Following the accident, Singapore Airlines took on a more active role in Air India’s engineering, operations, and airport services areas, aiming to support the group’s operational stability.
The requested funding also seeks to boost the creation of its own hangars at major airports across the country, reducing dependence on third parties for fleet maintenance.
Furthermore, airport services at six key airports are managed through Air India-Singapore Airport Terminal Services (AISATS), a 50/50 joint venture between Air India and SATS.
Sources indicated that optimizing services at other terminals across the country is also under evaluation.
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