SHEKHAR GUPTA: His initials are ARR.

(Laughs) We haven’t yet tied up with anyone; we’re in dialogue with people. But you may rest assured the brand building of Air India will continue and will be maintained. It may not be on the lines of Singapore Airlines or some other airline . . . we’re still not that big. But we have print ads coming out in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal. And we have a hoarding in Times Square, New York. There are firsts for Air India.

LEKHA AGARWAL: How soon will the legal merger take place?

After the merger announcement, August 8 was the last date for various parties to file objections. Now the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has to give its final order and we have to register it. Then, the real merger starts — integration of operations, networks, rescheduling of timings. Our consultants estimate that will take 12-18 months.

CHANDRASHEKHAR KULKARNI: You said privatisation of airports was not a problem, but the privatisation of Air India? In every PSU, employees seem to fear privatisation.

We don’t own Air India, so the owner decides whether he want to sell it or not. I have no views on that. My job is to run Air India, whether it’s a public, private, or semi-private or whatever entity.

As for fears, if you look at the biggest wealth creator on the Mumbai Stock Exchange, it’s the public sector. I believe a public sector airline can run efficiently and profitably and we’d like to show the world it can be done.

... contd.