Another Indian to head a US airline
A manager of Indian engineering pedigree has been named CEO of a middling American airline, the third Indian to hold a top line aviation job in the United States in the past decade.
By Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN |
WASHINGTON: A manager of Indian engineering pedigree has been named CEO of a middling American airline, the third Indian to hold a top line aviation job in the United States in the past decade.
Subodh Karnik, a Mumbai native, and graduate of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, will become president and chief executive of ATA Airlines effective January 1, 2007.
Karnik follows in the path of Rono Dutta and Rakesh Gangwal, both alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), who went on to head United Airlines and US Airways respectively. ATA is a far smaller outfit compared to those two biggies.
But while both Dutta and Gangwal left their jobs amid a downward spiral in the airline business in the months after 9/11, Karnik is credited with rescuing ATA after being brought in as CFO from Delta Airlines (where he was senior vice-president). He was later made COO.
"I couldn't be more excited for the employees of ATA with the announcement that Subodh Karnik will be ATA's
new President and CEO,'' John Denison, who he is replacing, said in a statement. Denison will remain chairman of ATA.
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"Subodh joined ATA in May 2005 and played a significant role in ATA's revival. He has amply demonstrated the skills and the personal qualities to successfully lead our Company for many years to come," Denison said.
The Indianapolis-based ATA entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2004 and emerged last February as a smaller company operating 29 airliners, compared to 64 before the bankruptcy. The airline employs 2700 people worldwide, including 700 in Indianapolis.
"Subodh joined ATA in May 2005 and played a significant role in ATA's revival. He has amply demonstrated the skills and the personal qualities to successfully lead our Company for many years to come," Denison said.
The Indianapolis-based ATA entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2004 and emerged last February as a smaller company operating 29 airliners, compared to 64 before the bankruptcy. The airline employs 2700 people worldwide, including 700 in Indianapolis.
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By that token, it is smaller than India's Jet Airways, and certain a midget compared to giants such as American Airlines, which the world's largest airline, and United Airways, which ranks 4th in terms of number of passengers flown.
ATA, established in August 1973 as American Trans Air, flies out of Washington DC and New York to California and Texas within U.S, and also to Hawaii and Mexico.
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It is also said to be North America's largest charter airline, transporting more troops for the United States Military to East Asia and Europe than any other commercial airline.
An interesting sidelight of the Indian executive run in the American aviation industry is the growing interflow of managerial talent between the United States and India, considered one of the fastest growing markets.
Both Gangwal and Dutta have been associated in recent times with airline ventures in India after unsuccessful stints heading U.S airlines which are still struggling more than five years after 9/11.
Gangwal is behind IndiGo and Dutta has been associated with Air Sahara.
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