Thulasidas to manoeuvre merged AI, IA

New Delhi: Ending months of speculation, the government announced on Tuesday that Air India chief V Thulasidas will be the CMD of National Aviation Co Ltd — the carrier being formed by merging AI and Indian Airlines. IA chief V Trivedi will be the merged carrier's joint MD. An aviation ministry spokesperson said that the two will continue in their current postings till the merged entity comes into being early July. "They both will be on the new posts till March 31, 2008, or until further orders."
Speaking to TOI after the announcement, the AI CMD listed out priorities for the merged company, National Aviation Co Ltd. "The first priority is to ensure that the process of merger takes place smoothly. Induction of new aircraft in our fleet is the second priority. And the third thing would be for the merged carrier to join an international alliance."
The process of route rationalisation has begun in which flight frequency between all stations; the type of aircraft and configuration required on them is being studied. With duplication of services, in which both AI and IA fly to same cities, will end.
In another move, the government is looking at Frankfurt and Paris as the European hub for AI for the time being. As more planes join its fleet and the number of cities it flies to between India and US grows, these places could be used as 'scissor' points from where passengers would change flights.
Together AI and IA have placed orders for 111 new generation aircraft that would join the fleet over next four years.
30/05/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Air India May 2007, Indian May 2007