A day after Marans made way for former co-founder Ajay Singh, the aviation ministry has told CNBC-TV18 the beleaguered airline SpiceJet may be exempted from an open offer.
Speaking exclusively to the channel, Mahesh Sharma, the minister of state for aviation, said they would be willing to extend help to the airline within the federal structure of the government.
Below is the transcript of Mahesh Sharma's interview with Malvika Jain on CNBC-TV18.
Q: There is a new investor who has shown interest in coming back and reviving operations of SpiceJet. There are talks of a possible infusion of Rs 1,500 crore into the company over a period of next six months. Do you feel that this is going to be sufficient infusion to address the problems of this ailing airline?
A: Civil aviation industry works in the wider interest of the passengers and of course the aviation industry as a whole - we will not like the credibility of this industry goes for future investors, people, players and stakeholders in this ministry and this industry.
In the wider interest if you look, airlines collapses have happened before with Kingfisher , we don't want it should happen with any other organisation. However definitely, we as a government, we as a ministry of civil aviation, cannot be a partner in this affair. If a positive proposal comes from that airlines, we are willing to extend help and to the best of our abilities and possibilities within the federal structure of our government, that is possible.
Q: Would an infusion Rs 1,500 crore be sufficient to address the concerns because Maran's have also shown interest in taking over the tax liabilities which remain pending.
A: What we will be interested in is the revenue losses or the dues of our government agencies, the ministries, for which if you are telling me this figure, it is sufficient to clear our dues. What are their internal dues, of course that is not known to us. However the proposal which comes to us definitely we will screen this proposal on the merits and we will try to settle out the issue. In case a positive proposal comes and they clear our dues, this figure of Rs 1,500 crore or even say Rs 500 crore comes and clear the government dues, government will have no problem in carrying on this business.
Q: The other key issue here is of an open offer which these companies would have to make but there is also a provision to provide exemption by a competent authority and in this case that happens to be the civil aviation ministry. Is it possible or is there a proposal which the government would be considering to waive this requirement of making an open offer?
A: One part is clearing of our dues, the passenger services whatever they are clearing their liabilities. Second part is taxation liabilities and third part is a change of head at our level. So that we will consider on the merit. If we see that somebody is infusing in the, it is a routine process which is no favour to anybody. It is a routine process, when the organisations are changing heads and stakeholders and shareholders are changing, it is a routine process.
Q: So there is a possibility for the government to allow an exemption for the company from making an open offer?
A: We will not like any organisation to die but at the same time we will not support going out of the way. If within the federal structure some permissions are permitted we would love to go for that but definitely it cannot be for an individual organisation or individual airlines. It is not possible.
Q: The government is going to look at it with an open mind going forward in the interest of the passengers and the industry. My last question to you pertains to the fall in fuel prices that we are seeing, overall what kind of impact do you think it will have on the aviation sector and particularly for airlines such a SpiceJet who are under immense pressure?
A: ATF prices has gone down tremendously and we wish that the benefit of this be passed to the passengers. We have discussed with the states also where they have reduced the taxation structure from almost about 20 percent, 16 or 12 percent to even 4 percent or 6 percent or so. This will have a relief to the aviation industry and because then fixed wing operations almost 35-40 percent of the operation cost is of the fuel and this relief to the fuel will be a big boon to them.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Willing to assist SpiceJet as per law: Aviation MoS Sharma
Dengan url
http://kebugaranhidup.blogspot.com/2015/01/willing-to-assist-spicejet-as-per-law.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Willing to assist SpiceJet as per law: Aviation MoS Sharma
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Willing to assist SpiceJet as per law: Aviation MoS Sharma
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar