Former IndiGo executive Sanjay Kumar has joined the Tata-promoted Air Asia as the Chief Operating Officer. An old hand in the field of aviation, Sanjay Kumar has over 25 years of experience and is expected to add muscle to the airline’s top management, currently under a significant reshuffle. Only a few weeks ago, Tata group veteran Sunil Bhaskaran was appointed as the chief executive officer and managing director of the airline.
Commenting on the development, AirAsia India Chairman S Ramadorai said in a statement that “we are thrilled to welcome Sanjay to the AirAsia India leadership team. He joins us at a time when the airline is in a growth momentum with an aim to venture forward in international operations.”
Kumar’s biggest challenge, upfront, would be helping Bhaskaran navigate the airline through choppy waters (the airline is facing heat from CBI for alleged lobbying and financial irregularities) and expand its fleet to a more significant number. The airline currently has 19 aircraft and pre-dominantly operates Boeing A320s.
For the uninitiated, Kumar has previously worked with the erstwhile Sahara Airlines and SpiceJet, before his long stint with IndiGo as the Chief Commercial Officer. He is credited for playing a pivotal role in IndiGo’s growth and expansion.
