New chief of AI-Indian mega airline to be named this week

New Delhi, Apr 1 (UNI) The government has registered a new company called National Aviation Company Ltd to amalgamate Air India (AI) and Indian along with their low-fare subsidiaries AI Express and Alliance Air.

The union cabinet had cleared the proposal to merge the two airlines a month ago.

Blending the names of domestic and international carriers, AI and Indian are planning to brand the merged entity as Air Indian, or maybe Indian Air. An official announcement on the decision is expected next week.

Officials say the new airline's logo could be a mix of AI's famed Maharaja and Indian's Ashok Chakra.

National Aviation Company Ltd will be headed by a chairman-cum-managing director and the board will have three directors. The names are expected to be announced this week.

The company will be divided into five divisions -- for repairing engines, maintenance and repair section, cargo division, ground handling, full service carrier, and a low cost division each headed by a CEO.

Indian went for a brand overhaul in 2006. Its mint fresh planes will now need to be repainted in new colours of the merged entity.

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