Thulasidas, Trivedi to head AI, Indian after merger

New Delhi, May 29: The government today announced appointments of Mr Vasudevan Thulasidas as chairman and managing director and Mr Vishwapati Trivedi as joint managing director of the merged Air India and Indian (Airlines).

Both will continue as chairman and managing director of Air India and Indian till the merged entity comes into being, said a statement issued by the civil aviation ministry.

From the date on which the merged entity comes into being, Mr Thulasidas will be the chairman and managing director till the date of his retirement which is March 31, 2008 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Similarly, Mr Trivedi will be joint managing director of the new entity till March 31, 2008 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

The government has also approved that the pay and perquisites of Both will remain protected.

Mr Thulasidas is an IAS officer of 1972 batch, Manipur-Tripura cadre while Mr Trivedi is an IAS officer of 1977 batch, Madhya Pradesh Cadre.

The government says the newly-merged entity of Air India and Indian along with their low-fare subsidiaries will emerge formally by July 15 under one brand. A new company called National Aviation Company Ltd has been registered to amalgamate AI, Indian and their low-fare subsidiaries AI Express and Alliance Air.

UNI