Mumbai: The Tata Group's plans to launch an airline in the mid-1990s was scuttled despite the backing of then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus, said on Wednesday. Later, the government had backed out due to opposition from rival airlines, he said at an event to celebrate the launch of Vistara, a Tata Group-Singapore Airlines joint venture, which began operations earlier this month.
Tata recalled the plan to launch an airline was initiated after former group chairman J R D Tata met the then cabinet secretary and was informed of the government's desire to allow private airlines. "J R D Tata first came away quite excited, but told me 'we have been out of the airline sector for many years and it has changed; it's become very competitive. It has new technology and it is different from what it was when Air India was first started. So, let's go and get the best partner we can...and give the country a world-class airline'," Tata said. "That never happened." "J R D (Tata) would have been really proud of Vistara. I am sure wherever he is, he would be looking at us and be very pleased."
19/01/15 Business Standard
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Tata recalled the plan to launch an airline was initiated after former group chairman J R D Tata met the then cabinet secretary and was informed of the government's desire to allow private airlines. "J R D Tata first came away quite excited, but told me 'we have been out of the airline sector for many years and it has changed; it's become very competitive. It has new technology and it is different from what it was when Air India was first started. So, let's go and get the best partner we can...and give the country a world-class airline'," Tata said. "That never happened." "J R D (Tata) would have been really proud of Vistara. I am sure wherever he is, he would be looking at us and be very pleased."
19/01/15 Business Standard
