Govt to decide on FDI by foreign airlines

In his budget speech, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said a proposal to allow foreign airlines to participate up to 49 per cent in domestic carriers is under active consideration of the government. At present, FDI up to 49 per cent is permitted in the airline sector in India, but foreign carriers are not allowed to buy stake due to security reasons. India`s financially troubled civil aviation sector grew at 18.5 per cent in the last seven years and the government has taken various steps to resolve the woes faced by airline industry, the Economic Survey for 2011-12 had said.

Kingfisher Airlines has slipped into a crisis and has total debts of more than Rs 7,000 crore. Indian banks have no plans for another round of debt restructuring for cash- strapped Kingfisher Airlines. Looking into the demands of the cash-strapped aviation industry, the government had on January 17 decided to launch the process to allow foreign airlines 49 per cent stake in Indian carriers.