Mumbai: Air India chief V Thulasidas has been appointed chairman and managing director (CMD) of the newly-merged state carrier `Air India'' while his counterpart in Indian Vishwapati Trivedi, will assume charge as joint managing director of the new outfit.

Both would hold the post till March 31 next year or till further orders, official sources said.

Thulasidas, an IAS officer, retires on March 25 next year. The appointments would take effect from the date the merged entity starts functioning, the sources said. The pay and perks of the two officers would also be protected, they said.

A new company, National Airlines Company Ltd, has already been registered.

Earlier this month, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said that the new carrier would start functioning as a single entity by the middle of July.

The appointments are a step forward in the merger process of the two public sector airlines.