Air India made a positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of Rs 20 crore for the first time since its merger with Indian Airlines, showing it is making a revival of sorts, Air India said on January 11.    

To show positive Ebitda in 2012-13, Air India will need to monetise its assets within this fiscal, as per the turnaround plan. In the same month last year, Air India made an Ebitda loss of around Rs 150 crore. Also, with the gradual shrinking of Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines and rise in fares by 30-40 per cent in 2012-13 as compared to last year, the carrier improved its market share from 16 per cent to 20 per cent in the last seven to eight months.    

A senior Director of Deloitte Amrit Pandurangi said that any indicator turning positive for Air India is a good sign. for Air India, as well as industry. It is a good trend. However, we will have to see it for a quarter or a year to see how much the turnaround plan paid off. But definitely, the capacity gap left by Kingfisher benefited Air India.