Date:06/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/06/stories/2006060603330900.htm

Back Govt nod awaited for Naresh Goyal to join Sahara board

Our Bureau

New Delhi , June 5

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not cleared the name of Mr Naresh Goyal, Chairman of Jet Airways, to join the Air Sahara board despite giving clearance to four Jet Airways directors to do so.

The four directors cleared are Dr Vijay Kelkar, Mr Saroj K. Datta, Mr Victoriano P. Dungca, and Mr Javed Akhtar.

Jet Airways purchased Air Sahara for $500 million in January this year. However, the acquisition is yet to be finalised, as all Governmental clearances have not been received.

The Government has already notified the policy to be followed regarding the use of airport infrastructure in the case of merger or takeover of airlines and sale or transfer of aircraft approved by the competent authority.

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, told the Lok Sabha: "It has been decided that only the user rights over such infrastructure that are given to an airline on a non-payment basis, like parking bays and landing slots, may be allowed to be used by the airline that takes over the aircraft."

He added: "For all other rights, the terms of lease or sale agreement between the airport operator and airline will apply. All other rights will be taken over by the Government or airport operator."