Vistara, the joint venture of Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons, is interested in national carrier Air India, which is up for sale. The joint venture is doing due diligence before making a decision on bidding, according to a top official.
Vistara chairman Bhaskar Bhat on Monday said the airline was evaluating viability to submit a bid for Air India as a joint venture and not just as Tata group.
When asked if Vistara was interested in Air India, Bhat said: "Which company would not be interested in evaluating a sovereign airline of the country?"
"We are a joint venture," he added on being asked whether Tata Sons was doing the evaluation or Singapore Airlines.
Vistara is a 51 percent and 49 percent joint venture between Tata Sons Singapore Airlines, respectively.
The government has invited bids for 100 percent stake sale in Air India for the second time to sell the debt-laden carrier.
In 2018, the government had invited bids for 76 percent stake in the national carrier but had not had any takers, largely due to companies' inhibitions of entering into a joint venture with the government.
The last date for preliminary bids submission is Mar 17.