The government has extended the deadline to bid for Air India by two months till June 30 because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has disrupted global economic activity and the aviation sector in particular.

Issuing a corrigendum to the expression of interest for the sale of Air India, the department of investment and public asset management said the deadline has been extended in view of the “request received from the IBs (interested bidders) in view of the prevailing situation arising out of Covid-19”.

This is the second extension in the deadline to submit bids by investors for Air India since it initiated the process of stake sale on January 27.

While issuing the EoI in January, the last date for bids was kept for March 17, which was later extended to April 30. This has now been further extended till June 30.

Also the date for intimation to qualified interested bidders (QIB) has been extended by two months till July 14, the divestment department said in the corrigendum posted on its website.“Further changes with respect to the ‘important dates’, if any, will be communicated to the interested bidders subsequently,” it added.

The pandemic has disrupted economic activity globally with many countries announcing a lockdown to contain the virus spread.

The aviation sector has been hit hard by the virus with airlines cancelling international flights and announcing pay cuts for employees.

The extension of Air India’s bid deadline followed the government's move last month to extend the time given to investors to bid for its entire 52.98 per cent stake in BPCL to June 13.