Even as a meeting of the Air Asia India board is expected on Tuesday, lawyers of former Air Asia India Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mittu Chandilya say the brand-licensing agreement signed between Air Asia Berhad group CEO Tony Fernandes, representing the Indian joint venture, and T Kanagalingam, who was then chief operating officer of Air Asia Berhad, represents a “conflict of interest” because both held top positions in the same airline.
The lawyers say Air Asia India needs to revoke the licensing agreement so that management control moves from Malaysia to India, as required by FDI guidelines. Under the FDI