In a major development, Ashwani Lohani has been appointed as the CMD of Air India. Notably, Lohani had earlier taken charge at the state-run carrier as its Chairman and Managing Director in August 2015, even as the airline was facing various unresolved issues related to the Air India-Indian Airlines merger. Recently, he retired as the Railway Board Chairman on December 31st 2018. Lohani was appointed chairman of the Railway Board after A K Mital resigned in August 2017, following the derailment of the Kaifiyat Express near Auriya in Uttar Pradesh. He has been appointed on a contract basis, according to the statement.
Notably, Ashwani Lohani is an Retired IRSME officer, and held significant posts including former Chairman of the Indian Railway Board and former Chairman & Managing Director of Air India. He started his career as an assistant electrical engineer in February, 1982, according to a PTI report. His appointment comes at a time when the government is looking to divest its stake in the state-run carrier.
