SpiceJet’s chief commercial officer Kaneswaran Avili has stepped down in the first major change at the top for the Indian budget carrier since original founder Ajay Singh returned to the fold.
Spicejet said in a statement Avili has quit to "pursue certain entrepreneurial opportunities that he has been very keen on."
SpiceJet’s co-founder Singh is back at the helm after he bought back a controlling 58% stake in the company from Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways in February.
"Avili helped create the ‘SpiceJet effect’, which through demand stimulation and the refusal to accept half-empty aircraft flying around especially in low season, has galvanized the entire Indian aviation market into high growth mode," said SpiceJet COO Sanjiv Kapoor.
However critics of the troubled airline pointed to these constant ‘unsustainable’ low fare promotions as a major factor in its current plight which has previously seen planes grounded and demands to pay off creditors.
There is likely to be more management changes ahead, with an airline spokesman saying: "A number of mid and senior- level ‘overpaid’ executives are on their way out," the Hindustan Times reported.
Airline operations has stabilized and most outstanding dues have been paid, another airline official said.
A comprehensive review of ‘wasteful’ expenditure as now begun, the official added.
COO Sanjiv Kapoor later tweeted that Avili made the decision to depart himself and was not forced out by the company.
