AirAsia India Replaces CEO In Management Shakeup

AirAsia India on Thursday (March 17) said Amar Abrol will succeed Mittu Chandilya as its CEO as the airline carried out a management shakeup, hoping to strengthen its position in India's competitive airline sector.

Abrol's appointment becomes effective from April 1. Chandilya's contract ends on March 31 this year, but he will continue with the company until the end of April to ensure a smooth transition of the CEO role, the company said.

Chandilya has led AirAsia India since June 1, 2013, and under his leadership the airline has established a fleet of six aircraft and a network of 12 routes.

In the October-December 2015 quarter, AirAsia India posted a 134 per cent growth in passenger traffic as it flew over half-a-million people and operated 3,376 flights as compared to 1,444 flights in the same period of 2014.

Abrol has over 20 years of experience in companies like Tune Money, a start-up, and American Express, across multiple markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, India and Malaysia.

"AirAsia India is poised for strong growth. I look forward to leading the team and together, giving many more Indians the opportunity to access the exciting promise of Indian civil aviation," Abrol said.

Born and raised in India, Abrol is a chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

"Mittu Chandilya led the airline team from the front through its launch and establishment in an intensely competitive market. The Board deeply appreciates his contribution. In Amar Abrol, we have a strong successor, with years of experience in customer delivery, which will be critical to the airline’s future," said S. Ramadorai, chairman of AirAsia India.

"Together with his senior management team, we are confident that Amar will lead AirAsia India into its next stage of growth," he said.

AirAsia India, which competes with IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir, had a market share of 2.3 per cent in January and ranked number six among domestic airlines.

In other management changes, AirAsia India also announced the appointment of Ankur Khanna as the chief financial officer and Kiran Jain as the head of commercial.