Changing of the...,.uard at Air ndia

Beinginvolved with thelaunch of Air India Aights toAustralia wasindeedan honour,"outgoing Air IndiaRegional Manager Australasia,Madhul\fathen told IndianLink. "It certainlywas a challenge anda steeplearning curve,"herecounted co agroupofwell- wishers andtravelagents at his farewellpartyin Sydneyrecently. Madhuhas beenpromoted toGeneral ManagerMarketingat Air India's corporate headquartersinDelbi with theresponsibility of drivingglobalsales.

Air Indialaunched cl1eir triangular services betweenDellii,Sydneyand Melbournein 2013 andoperatefour weekly AightstoSydneyandmreeweeklyco

Melbourne. FlyingtheDrearnliner planes, tbisterritorybasproved so popular that onhisrecent visit toAustralia,Chairman andManagingDirector Ashwani Lohani announcedthat in2017therewillbe 10 weekly flights toAustralia.

Alargepart ofthe credit for the success of Air Indiain tbis pareof thewotldgoes to Mathen who,alongwicl1 colleagueRavi Bodade,wasinstrumental iuestablishingthe networkofground operations, travelagents andoilier support for cl1eairlinein Sydney and1\-(elbourne.Now,Air IndiatendSto bea sentimental fa,ToutiteforIndiansin Australia ttavellingback tothecotmtryof rhe.ir bitcl1 andfor lnd.i,'ll1swantingadirect connectionto Australia.

"Ihad ro unlearn andrelearn themore intricate concepts of marketingpretty quickly when I arrivedhere,"11:athen said. "To positionAir Indiaasanairline of choice was noreasy,butI am extremely proudof the achievements I havehad. My dream ream here contributed tomaking Air India such as strongpresencein Australia."

Sujoy f<ishore is nowthenew Manager forAir Indiain Sydney andislooking forwardto carryingcl1elegacyforward. Havingspent rimein Nepal, Franceand Korea,and at the head officeinIndia, Sujoytoldlnd.i,'ll1 Link ,"The foundation ofAir India is verystrongin Australiaand soonwithour increased flightsbetween cl1e two countries,ic will certainlybeeasier for people in both countriesto interact with ead1 other. \Vich cricket and sud1, Australiansalreadyknow muchabout India, andAir Indiamakesiteasier forthem co traveJ cl1erealso."

Pawan Luthra