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Explained: Will Ilker Ayci's appointment as Air India CEO take off?

Speculation that frosty relations between an Erdogan-led Turkey and India may interrupt the plan

Ilker Aycı
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Ilker Aycı was the chairman of Turkish Airlines from 2015 to 2022. Under his watch the airline became a mega carrier

Arindam MajumderAneesh Phadnis New Delhi/Mumbai
The appointment of a Turkish national with close past ties to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the chief executive officer of Air India has raised some questions. Last week, salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group announced that former Turkish Airlines boss Ilker Aycı would take over as Air India CEO by April 1.

Sources said that while no objections have yet been raised by government authorities, the process may take longer than usual owing to Ayci’s closeness to Erdogan. The Turkish president has repeatedly taken an anti-India stance, including supporting Pakistan on the Kashmir policy.

If the position of chairman, managing director, CEO

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