Air India new CEO will be Turkish Airlines’ ex-chairman

The Tata Group has announced the appointment of Ilker Ayci – former chairman of Turkish Airlines – as Air India’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Ayci comes with substantial experience in the airline industry apart from holding key positions in various other sectors. This is perhaps the most significant step the Tatas have taken in the last couple of weeks, among various others, to kickstart the process of the carrier’s much-awaited revival.

In an official announcement on February 14th, the Tata Group welcomed Ilker Ayci as Air India’s new CEO and MD. Tata Sons chairman, N Chandrasekaran, who was a special invitee to the board meeting to consider the candidature of Ayci, issued an official statement, saying, “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.”

Tata Sons’ quest for Air India’s CEO had begun even before the airline was officially handed over to them, with some speculating earlier that the top job could go to former British Airways CEO Alex Cruz.