Digital Desk: Tata Sons appointed former Turkish Airlines Chairman Ilker Ayci as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India on Monday.
A statement released by Tata Sons reads, "The board after due deliberations approved the appointment of Ilker Ayci as the CEO & MD of Air India. This appointment is subject to requisite regulatory approvals,"
"The Air India Board met to consider the candidature of Mr Ayci. Mr. Chandrasekaran was a special invitee to this board meeting," the statement added.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said, "Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its present success throughout his time there. We are happy to welcome Ilker to the Tata Group, where he will lead Air India into the next phase of its development."
According to Tata Sons, he will assume his duties on or before April 1, 2022.
Ilker Ayci said, "I am pleased and privileged to be allowed to manage a famous airline and join the Tata Group. We will use Air India's great tradition to make it one of the top airlines in the world, with a distinctly superior flying experience that represents Indian warmth and hospitality, working closely with my colleagues at Air India and the Tata Group's leadership."
Recently, the Tata Group acquired Air India from the Indian government.
Air India is the Tata Group's third airline brand; it owns a majority stake in AirAsia India and a joint venture with Singapore Airlines Ltd's Vistara.
The holding entity of the salt-to-software conglomerate is Tata Sons.
Air India currently operates 4,400 domestic and 1,800 international landing and parking slots at domestic airports and 900 slots internationally.
In 1932, the Tatas founded Tata Airlines, which was eventually renamed Air India in 1946. The government took over the airline in 1953, but JRD Tata remained its chairman until 1977. The handover marked Air India's return to Tata's after a 69-year.
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