AirAsia India CEO steps down

AirAsia India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amar Abrol is stepping down after being in his current job for almost two years, and will move back to Malaysia to be based at the group’s head office.

Abrol “had expressed his desire to return to Malaysia to be closer to his family. The Board of AirAsia India would like to thank him for his contributions and will work closely with him to ensure a smooth transition,” AirAsia India said in a statement.

Before joining as the CEO of AirAsia India, a joint-venture between AirAsia Bhd and India’s Tata Sons conglomerate, Abrol was the CEO of financial products start-up Tune Money.

He had replaced Mittu Chandilya, who was handpicked by Air Asia Group chief Tan Sri Tony Fernandes in 2013 to head AirAsia India.

AirAsia India, which started operations in mid-2014, has a fleet of 18 aircraft and serves 19 destinations in India.

The airline carried more than 1.46 million passengers between January and March this year and recorded a load factor or 83 per cent.

The budget carrier competes with IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir in India’s growing air travel market.