Air Sahara has hired Rono Dutta, the former president of American giant United Airlines, as an advisor for its future expansion plans both in India and internationally.

Dutta, a leading figure in the US aviation industry and a former student of IIT Kharagpur, is coming to Sahara at a time when the company is looking at major changes such as flying international routes.

Since leaving United, Dutta has acted as a consultant to companies with interests in the aviation industry globally.

Confirming the development U K Bose, CEO, Air Sahara said: "Yes. Rono is joining as an advisor."

Dutta was president of United, the world's largest airline, between 1999 and 2002. He was forced to leave after United notched up heavy losses of over $2.1 billion in the wake of 9/11.

He was responsible for key moves by United including its merger with another troubled carrier US Airways. At its peak United had around 1,900 flights daily.

Since leaving United, Dutta has acted as a consultant to companies like Cerberus Capital Management which bid for Air Canada, the Canadian carrier.

He was also associated with Retirement Systems of Alabama, which was US Airways's second biggest creditor and which has now taken seats on the airline board.

Dutta joined United in 1985 and served as its president for three years from 1999 to September 2002. Before that he worked with leading consultancy firm Booz Allen Hamilton. He studied at IIT-Kharagpur and Harvard Business School.