Sir Humphrey is alive and well and living in Delhi!
One of the most keenly awaited orders in the airline industry is Air India's order for new widebodies, thought until relatively recently to be in the bag for the 777. A further order for 738s was also expected. Airbus, which is reported to have had won the Indian Airlines contract, was contesting this.
However, this potential order had been expected for years, literally. Along every step of the way, the Indian civil service has obstructed it - new committees for this, sub committees, approvals, permits the lot - all jobsworths. It was thought, however, that the situation was now coming to an end, but it's now believed the whole thing is off, because now (wait for it), they need a cost benefit analysis. Apparently, no one thought of this (or they may have and it was done a few years ago, since when things have changed).
The PM's office was anxious to get thing through, but the whole thing has been an embarrassment to India. AI, which has been losing competitive ground to the likes of EK, SQ, etc., badly needs an aircraft to fit between the 310 and 744. Losses are being cited as the latest excuse, but of course, new aircraft are needed to develop new markets. What Boeing and Airbus must think of this latest debacle is only to be guessed at.
There was a time, back in the Tata days of the early 60s, when AI was looked on as one of the most efficient carriers in the world and now, through civil service obstructionism and the failure of political leadership, it's been reduced to a laughing stock.