AI to appoint real estate consultant

New Delhi: Air India is likely to appoint a real estate consultant very soon to prepare a roadmap for monetising its assets in India and abroad worth Rs 5,000 crore over the next decade, official sources said today. The move to monetise its assets at an average rate of Rs 500 crore every year for ten years is part of the Financial Restructuring Plan approved by the government, they said.

Though Air India officials said it plans to appoint the consultant by the end of next month, official sources said the appointment could be expedited and the consultant could be in place within the next two weeks.

In another development, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh is understood to have sought a report from Air India on how its call centre was being run by a company that operates a competing no-frill airline. Any further action on the issue would be considered depending on the report on the issue from the national carrier.