 "AI CMD Rohit Nandan gets extension till Aug 2015")
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the extension of Nandan as the airline's Chairman and Managing Director "till August 21, 2015 or till the appointment of a regular incumbent, whichever is earlier," an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.
This is the second time that 57-year-old Nandan, a 1982 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been granted an extension. The first extension came on August 11 after he completed a three-year term at the helm of Air India, so that "the process of selection of a new CMD may be completed in the meantime".
Following this, the Civil Aviation Ministry had sought his continuation in the post crediting Nandan with improving the performance of the loss-making airline and successfully making Air India a member of the 27-member global airlines grouping, Star Alliance.
The Ministry was also understood to have pointed out that a new appointment would disturb continuity and affect Air India's performance at a critical stage when its overall performance had started looking up.