TATA has emerged as the winner for acquiring Air India (AI) from the Government which announced its decision to sell all its stake in Air India as well as AI’s stake in two other businesses — Air India Express Ltd (AIXL) and Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS). The sale of Air India to a private player has been in the offing for a long time. Continuous loss making was the main reason for sell of Air India. In 2007, AI (which flew international flights) was merged with the domestic carrier, Indian Airlines, to reduce losses, it never made a profit since 2007. As of August 2021, AI’s debt was Rs 61,562 crore.

AI was started by the Tata Group in 1932, but in 1947, as India gained Independence, the government bought 49% stake in AI. In 1953, the government bought the remaining stake, and AI was nationalised.