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IAS officer takes over as Air India CMD
Mumbai, Dec 22: V Thulasidas, an IAS officer of Tripura cadre of 1972 batch, will take over as chairman and managing director of Air-India today.
Mumbai, Dec 22: V Thulasidas, an IAS officer of Tripura cadre of 1972 batch, will take over as chairman and managing director of Air-India today.
Thulasidas, who was additional secretary in the Defence Ministry, has been appointed as CMD for three years by the government, according to a notification issued on December 19.
Sunil Arora, chairman and managing director of Indian Airlines, has been holding additional charge as managing director of A-I since August after J N Gogoi retired following a six month extension while K Roy Paul, Secretary of Civil Aviation, is the chairman.
The airline will have a full time chairman and managing director after nine years. Y C Deveshawar headed the airline as CMD from November 1991 till February 1994.
Thulasidas's appointment comes at a time when the Naresh Chandra report is being considered by the government for the formulation of the civil aviation policy, fleet acquisition plan of the airline as well greater synergy with Indian Airlines to face competition from the foreign airlines.
One of the main tasks of Thusalidas would be to expedite the fleet expansion proposals with the government. The A-I board had more than a month ago approved a proposal for acquisition of 10 Airbus A340-300s and 18 Boeing 737-800s at a cost of Rs 10,500 crore.
A-I had recently embarked on a growth plan and recruited 45 pilots, more than 150 cabin crew and 60 trainee engineers.
It presently has 16,100 employees on its rolls, the lowest ever during the last 25 years with a fleet size of 32 aircraft, including 13 taken on lease.
Bureau Report
Thulasidas, who was additional secretary in the Defence Ministry, has been appointed as CMD for three years by the government, according to a notification issued on December 19.
Sunil Arora, chairman and managing director of Indian Airlines, has been holding additional charge as managing director of A-I since August after J N Gogoi retired following a six month extension while K Roy Paul, Secretary of Civil Aviation, is the chairman.
The airline will have a full time chairman and managing director after nine years. Y C Deveshawar headed the airline as CMD from November 1991 till February 1994.
Thulasidas's appointment comes at a time when the Naresh Chandra report is being considered by the government for the formulation of the civil aviation policy, fleet acquisition plan of the airline as well greater synergy with Indian Airlines to face competition from the foreign airlines.
One of the main tasks of Thusalidas would be to expedite the fleet expansion proposals with the government. The A-I board had more than a month ago approved a proposal for acquisition of 10 Airbus A340-300s and 18 Boeing 737-800s at a cost of Rs 10,500 crore.
A-I had recently embarked on a growth plan and recruited 45 pilots, more than 150 cabin crew and 60 trainee engineers.
It presently has 16,100 employees on its rolls, the lowest ever during the last 25 years with a fleet size of 32 aircraft, including 13 taken on lease.
Bureau Report