Why Air India's turnaround is witnessing turbulence

Delhi: Even as the rift between those responsible for the claimed turnaround of the national carrier Air India is widening by the day, allegations are flying high and thick between the independent board of directors and the executive management staff.
The latest feud between the two camps regarding the appointment of some people with 'dubious credentials' as part of the so-called turnaround is turning out to be an interesting contest between the two groups. Documents pertaining to these appointments, which are in the possession of MiD DAY, establish that both the camps knew well how and who are being taken on board.
The fresh controversy surrounds the appointment of Captain Pawan Arora as COO, Air India Charters Limited (AICL), Kamaljeet Rattan as CCO, National Aviation Company Limited (NACIL) and Captain Stephen Sukumar as COT, NACIL.
The documents suggest Chief Operating Officer (COO-NACIL) Gustav Baldauf was appointed by a committee headed by Aviation Secretary MM Nambiar. The posts of Arora, Rattan and Sukumar were sanctioned after a presentation before the independent directors and Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The appointments were later cleared by the HR committee and Air India board.
The documents, containing minutes of the entire appointment procedure, suggest that that Chief Managing Director, NACIL, Arvind Jadhav, who has been facing the flak for appointment of people with "dubious credentials", might not be entirely responsible for it.
17/11/10 Mohit Sharma/MiD DAY

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Categories: Air India Nov 2010