New Delhi, January 5 - Air India, the flagship carrier under Tata Group ownership, is reportedly preparing for a significant leadership transition as CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson approaches the end of his tenure. Appointed in July 2022, the New Zealander has steered the airline through a comprehensive transformation plan aimed at restoring its status as a world-class aviation player. This includes the successful merger of Vistara into Air India, consolidating operations and enhancing network efficiency in the competitive Indian aviation market. However, global supply chain disruptions have severely hampered fleet expansion, with no new aircraft tailored for Air India delivered despite expectations of 28 additions, forcing reliance on leased planes and older models.
The push for change stems from Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran's reported dissatisfaction with the pace of on-ground execution and improvements in service standards. Air India continues to grapple with challenges such as on-time performance issues, regulatory scrutiny, including show-cause notices from the DGCA, and substantial financial losses exceeding ₹10,000 crore in FY25 amid rising operational costs and route inefficiencies. These factors, combined with heightened expectations for sharper customer focus and profitability in India's booming airlines sector, have prompted a proactive search for fresh leadership to accelerate the airline's revival.
Discussions have already taken place with chief executives from prominent UK- and US-based international carriers, signaling Tata Group's intent to bring in experienced global talent for the next phase. While Wilson's contract extends until June 2027, a new Air India CEO appointment could occur earlier to inject renewed momentum into fleet modernization, operational excellence, and market competitiveness.
This potential cockpit reset underscores the Tata Group's commitment to elevating Air India amid intense competition in the aviation news, positioning the airline for sustained growth and enhanced passenger experience in the evolving Indian airlines landscape.