Late last month, the Cabinet had given in-principle approval for the disinvestment of AI, a move opposed by several employees' unions who say they can turn around the carrier if the government waived the huge Rs 52,000 crore debt.
An office bearer of the association described Kovind's election as a "silver lining" for the beleagured employees.
"Kovind ji was a great help for AICCA in settling two of our previous settlements when he was a Rajya Sabha MP and is very familiar with AI. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain here," he said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content