New Delhi — Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new chief executive officer and managing director, replacing Campbell Wilson as the Tata Group-owned carrier enters the next stage of its turnaround.
The leadership change comes as Air India faces mounting financial and operational pressure, including heavy losses and an investigation into last year’s Boeing Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad airport that killed 260 people.
Wilson, a former Singapore Airlines executive, took charge of Air India in 2022 after the Tata Group acquired the previously government-owned airline. The company had earlier said Wilson planned to step down and that it had begun searching for his successor.
Gebremariam led Ethiopian Airlines Group for more than a decade, overseeing a multibillion-dollar expansion that transformed the regional carrier into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline group. During his tenure, revenue increased more than fourfold and the airline’s fleet nearly tripled.
Air India said Gebremariam brings experience in managing complex airline operations, expanding long-haul networks, developing international aviation hubs and building maintenance, repair, training and engineering infrastructure.
“Following an intensive evaluation process, the Air India Board unanimously concluded that Gebremariam possesses the ideal combination of leadership, deep operational expertise, and strategic execution capability required for Air India’s next phase of growth,” the airline said.
Air India reported a loss of $2.8 billion for the 2025-26 financial year, according to Singapore Airlines’ recently released annual report. Singapore Airlines holds a stake in the carrier.
The airline has also canceled several international flights in recent months because of the closure of Pakistan’s airspace and conflict in the Middle East, disrupting its international network and complicating its recovery plans.
Air India said Gebremariam would work with civil aviation authorities and regulators to improve international connectivity, strengthen India’s position as a global aviation hub and maintain high safety and compliance standards.
Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the airline had completed the initial phase of stabilization, integration and fleet planning under Wilson and was now moving into a period focused on execution and expansion.
“Tewolde’s track record in building one of the world’s most efficient and profitable airline groups makes him uniquely suited to lead Air India,” Chandrasekaran said. “His operational expertise, commitment to safety, and vision for hub development will be instrumental as we establish Air India as a premier global carrier and a source of national pride.”
The board thanked Wilson for overseeing merger and integration efforts, beginning the airline’s fleet modernization program, establishing new corporate governance standards and laying the foundation for future growth.
Air India said details of Gebremariam’s start date and the leadership transition schedule would be announced later. (Source: IANS)
