Learnt about Tata-Singapore Air JV today morning: Ajit Singh

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has said he came to know about the joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines to start a full service carrier in India only in the morning.

"I was just informed this morning through a courtesy call" by the Tatas, Singh told IANS. "They (Tata Sons and SIA) will apply to the FIPB. Apart from this, I cannot comment any further. The application will have to take its due procedural course."

This is the third time the two business groups are trying to start an airline in India.

In mid-1990s, Tatas and Singapore Airlines had tried to start an airline.

Then again 2000-2001, both the parties made another bid to take a stake in the erstwhile Indian Airlines. However, the deal never came through due to stringent foreign investment norms that existed at that time.

Interestingly, in February, the minister had suggested that Tata Group start its own airline. Singh was then commenting on the tie-up between Tata Sons and Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and Arun Bhatia's Telstra Tradeplace to start a budget airline in India.

Informatively, India's first passenger carrier was Tata Airlines, which took flight in 1932. In 1953, it was nationalised and renamed Air India.

With inputs from IANS