A high-level meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar is likely to take a decision on the appointment of chiefs of national carrier Air India and the newly-created Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) today.
The meeting, to be attended by Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar and Public Enterprises Selection Board Chairman Naresh Narad, was earlier slated to decide only on appointing the Chairman of AERA, a bill for which was passed in Parliament six months ago.
However, later the search for a new CMD of the national carrier was added on its agenda, official sources said.
While denying speculation that Air India CMD Raghu Menon had quit, AI officials had last night said that he was on leave for personal reasons till month-end.
Menon, an IAS officer of 1974 batch, was appointed CMD of Air India last April. As per his appointment, he can remain at the helm of Air India till 2010. He was the front-runner for the post of the AERA Chairman, along with former AAI chief K Ramalingam and others.
The AERA, which would have a Chairman and two members, would monitor standards, regulate tariff and adjudicate disputes. The prime objective of AERA is to create a level-playing field and foster healthy competition among all major airports, encourage investment in airport facilities, and operate efficient, economic and viable airports.