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September 8, 2001
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Tatas, Air France-Delta consortium in talks on Air-India bid

Puja Mehra

The Tatas have initiated talks with the Air France-Delta consortium for a possible partnership for the Air-India bid. A team of representatives of the Tata group have already arrived in Paris for negotiating with the consortium.

A top Tata group executive, however, told Business Standard that the talks are still at a pre-mature stage. Another senior executive described the talks as "testing the waters".

When contacted, a Delhi-based spokesperson of Air France said the French carrier is "following with attention any evolution in the process of divestment, which is in progress."

He said that the airline along with its consortium partner, Delta, earlier withdrew its offer for A-I as it could not find an Indian partner.

An Air France executive in Paris confirmed that talks between the Tatas and the airline had already begun. The executive, however, refused to talk about the American carrier Delta.

The Tatas had cold-shouldered Air France last time as it was looking at a tie-up with Singapore Airlines. The French airline had approached the Tatas after its talks with ITC did not fructify.

The Tatas had partnered with Singapore Airlines to bid for 40 per cent government stake in A-I. The foreign partner, however, withdrew its offer citing political opposition and business opportunities other than A-I.

The Tatas have since said that though it would be difficult to zero in on an airline that could match up to Singapore Airlines, the process of scouting for a fresh partner is on.

The partner is likely to be an airline with not too many interests (of its own) in the Indian market, executives said. The partnership would hinge on the airline's investment capability and the track record of the foreign airline, they added.

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