The debt-laden airline would be divided into core airline business, regional arm, ground handling and engineering operations, the report added.

The core airline business comprising Air India and Air India Express, the low-cost overseas arm, will be offered as one company, and the process will be completed by the end of 2018, Bloomberg reported, quoting Junior Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha. https://bloom.bg/2DxrCWF

Last week, India had cleared a proposal to allow foreign investors to own up to 49 percent in the carrier.

Air India could not be immediately contacted for comments.

(Reporting By Arnab Paul in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)