SBI revamped AIR India's loans to an average 15 year tenure as per a recent plan approved by RBI the company alone accounts for more than half of Indian aviation's debt overhang and over $1.5 bln of working capital and $3 bln in term loans were restructured in the latest exercise. The bank accepted CCPS issue against the working Capital loans allowing the airline to pay the bank thru redeemable cumulative preference shares, the bank still not becoming an equity holder for the sole reason that it is a government owned airline. 

Air India is also getting Govt equity of $5 bln over 10 years with $1.35 bln issued this year ( we still use USDINR=50 as rupee tries to make a 48-53 range)  

Something tells me that will only pay for the airline's immediate default and its daily operational losses will continue nothing changing about the management and operational staff habits that make for the demise of the airline. In the mean time fare hikes by private airlines will happen as highly efficient companies like Jet and Indigo bleed and or resort to sale / lease back despite being anointed full service airlines liable to charging "full fares" for their service. Low fare airlines like Spicejet and premium experience jugglers like Kingfisher remain stuck in the middle, having adopted most global best practices and created sumptuous fare without being able to carry home any profit

Posted via email from The India Investment Post