Air India’s new owner Tata Sons has appointed former Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Ayci as the carrier’s new chief executive and managing director.
Tata formalised its ownership of the Indian flag carrier on 27 January, having last year won the bidding in the privatisation of the loss-making carrier.
Today it disclosed the appointment of Ayci to head the airline, a role he will assume by the start of April. Ayci stepped down as chairman of Turkish Airlines in late January, a role he had held since 2015.
Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran says: ”Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its current success during his tenure there. We are delighted to welcome Ilker to the Tata Group where he would lead Air India into the new era.”
Ayci says: ”Working closely with my colleagues at Air India and the leadership of the Tata Group, we will utilise the strong heritage of Air India to make it one of the best airlines in the world with a uniquely superior flying experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality.”
