Chandrakumar is AI Express COO

New Delhi: After an unpleasant experience with an outsider, Air India has appointed S Chandrakumar, an old timer, as the chief operating officer of Air India Express, the low-cost international subsidiary of the government carrier.
Pawan Arora, who was hired from low-cost carrier IndiGo at an annual package of Rs 1.2 crore, was asked to leave last week.
Chandrakumar has been with the airline for 30 years and worked in several departments. Before being deputed to AI Express as the corporate communications head, he was the general manager of corporate communications in Delhi.
Arora’s appointment was embroiled in controversy after details of his removal from a position of test pilot by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) surfaced. The civil aviation ministry had then asked the AI board to reconsider the appointment. Questions had also been raised about non-renewal of Arora’s flight instructor licence.
Arora joined the airline in October and his appointment was cancelled in a board meeting a month later. In the meeting, both independent and government directors had asked the management to cancel Arora’s appointment. The management did not and even defied a letter from the ministry asking it to remove Arora.
The ministry had issued fresh and final orders asking the management to remove Arora.
16/02/11 Business Standard

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Categories: Air India Budget Feb 2011, Air India Feb 2011