Outgoing Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, described his tenure at the Tata Group-owned carrier as a 'wonderful experience,' saying it had been a privilege to be part of the airline's long and proud history. Wilson made the remarks to reporters ahead of a formal leadership handover to incoming CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam.

Wilson's Farewell Remarks

'Air India and India have been a wonderful experience. It's been a privilege to be part of Air India's long and proud history. I'm very happy to be handing over to Tewolde Gebremariam as my successor. I wish Air India and India all the very best in the continued rise to become a world-class airline,' Wilson told reporters.

Wilson steered the airline through one of the most turbulent chapters in its history — the Tata Group's acquisition, a sweeping fleet expansion programme, and significant structural overhauls aimed at repositioning the carrier as a global full-service airline.

Gebremariam's Vision for Air India

Incoming CEO Tewolde Gebremariam, who earlier served as the long-time head of Ethiopian Airlines, is awaiting the completion of required government security clearances before formally assuming charge. Earlier this month, he addressed employees directly, borrowing a now-familiar acronym to state, 'We will Make Air India Great Again,' signalling a high-energy intent to accelerate the airline's transformation.

At a town hall attended by Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and Wilson, Gebremariam said the airline had 'a powerful heritage, a strong brand and significant growth potential' — framing his mandate as building on momentum rather than starting from scratch.

Chandrasekaran Flags Priorities and Challenges

Chairman N. Chandrasekaran used the town hall to outline the airline's near-term priorities: safety, rebuilding customer trust, operational excellence, and financial discipline. He also acknowledged the headwinds the carrier has faced, including geopolitical disruptions, airspace restrictions, fuel price volatility, and the impact of the AI171 accident.

Notably, the leadership transition comes just days after two operational disruptions on 13 September. Flight AI431 was diverted to Lucknow due to unfavourable weather and visibility conditions, while a separate Bhopal-to-Delhi service was diverted to Jaipur following a technical issue, handled as per standard procedures.

What the Transition Means for Air India

The change of guard marks a pivotal moment for Air India, which has been undergoing a multi-year revival under Tata ownership after decades of state-run stagnation. Gebremariam's track record at Ethiopian Airlines — widely credited with turning it into Africa's largest and most profitable carrier — has raised expectations that he can replicate a similar operational and commercial turnaround at Air India.

With a large aircraft order book, an expanding international network, and a mandate to close the gap with global full-service rivals, the incoming CEO inherits both significant opportunity and considerable execution risk. All eyes will now be on the pace and direction of change once Gebremariam formally takes the helm.