Former IndiGo chief becomes head of global airline alliance

NEW DELHI: Former CEO of no-frill carrier IndiGo, Bruce Ashby, has been appointed the head of the leading global airline grouping, 'oneworld'.

Ashby would succeed John McCulloch as the Chief Executive of premier airline alliance, which among others has Kingfisher Airlines as a member-elect and British Airways and American Airlines as full-time members.

Announcing Ashby's appointment, a oneworld statement said the alliance would also shift its headquarters from Vancouver to New York next year.

Airline industry veteran Ashby, who practically launched IndiGo's operations in India, worked in senior positions in United Airlines, Delta and US Airways and spent the past five years leading IndiGo and Middle Eastern carrier SAMA Airlines.

In the statement, Ashby said "oneworld has set the benchmark in the increasingly important arena of airline alliances, with its grouping of best-in-class carriers from each region and its focus on quality and innovation."

Gerard Arpey, Chairman of oneworld's Governing Board and Chairman and Chief Executive of American Airlines, thanked McCulloch for his leadership and said Ashby would bring "a track record of tremen dous experience, success and knowledge of our industry to oneworld as we continue to strengthen its competitive position and service to customers."

Oneworld also has Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas and Royal Jordanian as its members.