Emirates to 'look at' Air-India tender

Dubai's Emirates airline said on Thursday it would look with interest at the privatisation of India's state-run Air-India, but could not say whether it would take a stake until the details of the tender were released.

"We will look at it (the tender) when it comes out," Emirates director of corporate communications Mike Simon said.

"But we can't say what we think until the details are out," he added.

The Indian government plans to sell 60 per cent of Air-India, of which 40 per cent has been set aside for a strategic partner. Foreign airlines can hold a maximum of 26 per cent.

Air-India said last month that it would advertise for potential bidders for a stake in the carrier in August. The airline has set a deadline of March 2001 for the completion of its privatisation process.

Air-India also said that at this stage it was not inviting financial bids but merely initial "expressions of interest".

The founder of British long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic Airways, Richard Branson, has already said his airline could be interested in taking a stake in the Indian carrier.

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