Air India to get Rs 30000cr turnaround package

New Delhi, April 12: Giving a major boost to cash- strapped Air India, government on Thursday announced a turnaround package with a Rs 30,000 crore equity infusion over a nine- year period and induction of 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

In another development, the government also approved a proposal to hive off Air India's MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) business and its Engineering Services as two wholly-owned subsidiaries, placing about 19,000 of around 28,000 total employees with them.

Announcing the decisions of the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA), Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh told reporters that under the approved turnaround plan (TAP) and financial restructuring plan (FRP), the airline would get an upfront equity infusion of Rs 6,750 crore.

The airline has been allowed to issue government- guaranteed non-convertible debentures (NCDs) worth Rs 7,400 crore to its lenders, like financial institutions, banks, LIC and EPFO. These NCDs would be used to repay part of the airline's close to Rs 21,200 crore working capital loans.

The debt-ridden carrier has outstanding loans and dues worth Rs 67,520 crore, of which Rs 21,200 crore is working capital loan, Rs 22,000 crore long-term loan on fleet acquisition, Rs 4,600 crore vendor dues besides an accumulated loss of Rs 20,320 crore. The CCEA also gave its nod to the induction of 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and three Boeing 777-300s on sale and leaseback basis.

Under this system, one party sells a property to a buyer who immediately leases it back to the seller. This arrangement allows the initial buyer to make full use of the asset while not having capital tied up in the asset.