Tata Sons has appointed former civil aviation secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola as an advisor to its aviation business as it works to steady and transform Air India, according to a report by The Economic Times. A 1985-batch IAS officer, Kharola, earlier served as Civil Aviation Secretary from February 2019 to September 2021 and oversaw the privatisation process that led to the Tata Group acquiring Air India in January 2022. He also briefly served as the airline’s chairman. Kharola has, however, not commented on his new role.
His appointment comes at a time when Air India is under close regulatory watch. The airline has faced heightened scrutiny following last year’s fatal Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people. A preliminary investigation did not blame the aircraft or the airline’s engineering systems for the accident.
ALSO READ | Bengaluru airport ships 60 million roses across 26 countries in Valentine’s Day boom
Regulatory heat and government engagement
Regulatory oversight has intensified over the past two years. Data presented in Parliament shows that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued 84 show-cause notices to Air India and 65 to Air India Express. In comparison, IndiGo, which operates nearly twice as many aircraft, received 98 notices.
Last week, the DGCA fined Air India for operating an aircraft eight times without a valid airworthiness certificate and held CEO Campbell Wilson responsible, stating that the lapse had affected public confidence in aviation safety.
ALSO READ | Which 3 stocks should you watch in today’s market? Experts pick their top calls
Sources told The Economic Times that Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran personally selected Kharola and that he has been closely involved with the airline’s government interactions and safety reviews since the crash. There have also been concerns within the group about communication gaps with the government.
Air India is currently seeking approval to use Chinese airspace to manage higher operational costs caused by restrictions on Indian carriers flying over Pakistani airspace. Meanwhile, rival IndiGo has also brought former bureaucrats into key roles, including RK Singh, a former joint secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry, who now leads corporate affairs at the airline.
