First Indian Woman Chairperson Of Indian Airlines

                                                            
Sushma Chawla became the first woman ever to head the Indian Airlines as she took charge as the chairperson and MD of the public sector carrier here. Chawla, who was the deputy MD, will be holding the post in an officiating capacity according to the appointment orders.

She replaces Sunil Arora. Chawla, a post-graduate from the Delhi School of Economics and a topper throughout, joined IA as a management trainee in 1971. She steadily climbed the corporate ladder in the airline to become its first woman director in 1996.

Chawla took over from Sunil Arora who had headed Indian Airlines for five years, an Indian Airlines release said.

Chawla joined the state-owned domestic carrier in 1971 as an executive and moved up to be the first woman director of the company in 1996.

She also headed the northern region as the airline's regional director and then as director (finance) before being promoted as deputy managing director in September 2004.