The government extended the deadline to submit bid documents for Air India by two months to 30 June, given the ongoing nationwide lockdown.

Though aviation sector has been badly hit by the covid-19 pandemic, the Finance Ministry in India is confident it will complete the privatisation of Air India as it has the full financial year ahead. This is the second time the government extended the deadline to submit bids for Air India. It had earlier extended the deadline to 30 April from 17 March.

The government in January invited preliminary bids to divest its entire stake in the national carrier, and the airline’s subsidiary Air India Express along with its joint venture Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited.