Former AI Express CEO Aloke Singh now in IndiGo cockpit as CSO IndiGo has appointed Aloke Singh, former managing director and CEO of Air India Express, as its chief strategy officer (CSO). Singh completed his tenure at AI Express on March 19, during which he oversaw the merger of AirAsia India into the airline and led the Tata Group’s low-cost carrier to establish itself as a significant player in the aviation sector. His previous roles included senior leadership positions in strategy at Air India and Oman Air. This marks the first major hiring by IndiGo founder Rahul Bhatia, who recently became the airline’s interim CEO. The appointment signals IndiGo’s intent to attract top talent both in India and globally. Bhatia stated that Singh’s combination of strategic vision and operational expertise will be crucial as IndiGo builds a more agile and future-ready organization. He noted that Singh’s deep understanding of the aviation ecosystem will aid the airline in accelerating its growth phase. For now, Singh will report to Bhatia, but once the next CEO is appointed, he will transition to reporting to the new leader. Singh expressed enthusiasm about joining IndiGo at a pivotal moment for the airline and the broader Indian aviation industry. He highlighted IndiGo’s achievements in redefining domestic and short-haul international aviation and its plans to expand globally. As CSO, Singh will lead the airline’s long-term strategic planning and drive enterprise-wide transformation initiatives focused on growth, operational efficiency, and competitive positioning in a dynamic global market. The airline emphasized that Singh’s role will involve collaborating with leadership on cross-functional priorities to enhance agility, elevate customer experiences, and deliver sustainable shareholder value.#air_india_express #indigo #rahul_bhatia #tata_group #aloke_singh
EASA Flags Safety Lapses in Air India Aircraft European aviation authorities have raised concerns over safety lapses in Air India aircraft following a series of surprise inspections at airports across Europe, prompting increased scrutiny from regulators and corrective action by India’s aviation watchdog. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) identified multiple issues during inspections carried out under its Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) program. Officials familiar with the findings noted that the ratio of safety issues per inspection for Air India aircraft reached 1.96 in January, triggering concern within the Cologne-based regulator and prompting communication with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). A ratio approaching 2 is considered a warning threshold in the SAFA framework. If exceeded, it can result in heightened inspections, operational restrictions, or in extreme cases, bans in European markets. European authorities maintain strict safety standards, and even relatively minor cabin or documentation issues are recorded as compliance findings. The inspections did not point to a single aircraft but rather a pattern of issues across Air India’s fleet, mainly involving older widebody jets such as Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. The findings emerged during routine surprise inspections at multiple European airports under the SAFA program, with increased exposure at hubs like Vienna due to fuel stops on North America routes. In response, the DGCA moved quickly to intensify oversight of the Tata Group-owned airline. Authorities imposed corrective measures and increased inspections of aircraft scheduled for international operations. Only aircraft meeting full compliance standards are now cleared for continued service.#easa #air_india #director_general_of_civil_aviation #tata_group #singapore_airlines
