Merge two problem-ridden government-owned airlines and create one thriving business. That seems to be the optimistic logic behind a government plan-after 20 years of indecision—to merge Air India, an international carrier, and Indian (formerly Indian Airlines), which flies mainly domestic routes. Praful Patel, India's ever-optimistic minister of civil aviation, says the merger will be done "this fiscal year", but few officials or observers believe him. They see his statement as an attempt to get things going, rather than setting a deadline.
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