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JET SET GO
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Having survived flak and fury, the proposed merger of state-owned airlines Air-India and Indian has attained an irresistible momentum
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The dynamics of the proposed merger of state-owned carriers Air-India and Indian have acquired a new momentum. The Air-India board has confirmed the appointment of Accenture as the consultant to advise the two airlines on the merger. Consultancy firm Accenture has been given the broad terms of reference to prepare a roadmap which include issues involved in the merger specifically related to integration of flight schedules, network, infrastructure, marketing and distribution channels, integration of the fleets, subsidiary companies, and asked to develop business strategy and plans for the merged entity.
According to civil aviation minister Praful Patel, the union is expected to be completed in the current financial year. Patel also said the proposed initial public offer (IPO) of Indian would be done after the merger. Merril Lynch has been entrusted to carry out the valuation for Air-India.
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We are carrying out our social responsibility as a corporate by introducing films on environment on board
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Accenture has indicated it would dedicate experienced key personnel in the field of merger and amalgamations to the project. It has also broadly stated that it would be in a position to complete the initial work related to the pre-merger involving merger
conceptualisation, valuation and planning within 10 weeks from the date of award of its mandate which would enable the companies to prepare a detailed note to the government for its approval.
After getting government approval, the necessary merger process which involves developing business strategy and operating plan for the merged entity including operational integration would be taken up and completed within the next 16 weeks for the merged entity to come into existence. Accenture’s assignment also includes post-merger integration issues and implementation support for a period of 52 weeks following the merger.
On September 29, 2006, a day long conference took place at the Air-India headquarters board room, attended among others by the brass of United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), Ministry of Environment and Forests and TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute). The conference moved in a direction that was visionary, and was guided by CMD
Thulasidas. Collectively a decision was taken to screen the short cartoon film “Ozzy Ozone” on all Air-India flights starting October, for a month. This is an animated film, specially produced by UNEP and will introduce the comic character Ozzy who will explain the significance and role of the ozone layer and how one can protect it by eliminating harmful chemicals wherever possible. Apart from
Ozzy, Air-India will screen three other films on board.
Says CMD Thulasidas, “As an airlines we are conscious of our role in protecting our environment. We have to burn a lot of jet fuel that contributes to the degradation of the environment. So not only are we trying to heighten emission standards by introducing new aircraft, we are also trying to carry out our social responsibility as a corporate by introducing films on environment on board.”
In September 2005, Air-India had established a Corporate Environment Core Group with UNEP to ensure ecological stability, sustainable development and environmental well-being of planet Earth.
Post its partnership with UNEP, Air-India has adopted various environment friendly initiatives such as effluent treatment plants, CFC-free eco-friendly installations and recycling of halogens in fire extinguishers. Additional measures in conserving energy and water in the Air-India building at Nariman Point were also adopted. A proposal is also on the anvil to convert it into a Green Building.
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October 2006
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