New CEO, old problems: Takeaways from Air India’s town hall meeting

Air India leadership gathers to meet new CEOAir India's top leadership came together for a town hall meeting on Monday as the airline welcomed Tewolde Gebremariam as its incoming CEO and managing director, alongside Chairman N Chandrasekaran and outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson. The meeting marked a change of guard at the Tata Group-owned airline after nearly four years under Wilson. In a post on X, Air India described the gathering as the beginning of the next chapter in its transformation, with Gebremariam set to assume the CEO and MD role after receiving the necessary security clearance from the government. Photo courtesy of X Chandrasekaran highlights people’s support“For me, bringing Air India back to the Tata Group is one of the most important milestones of my career,” said Chandrasekaran, recalling the acquisition of the national carrier by the Tata group in 2022, said sources present at the meeting. “Air India belongs to a billion people. It is not just another business.” He said the airline attracts strong opinions, but its biggest strength was the support it continues to receive from people across the country. Photo by Photo by NOAH SEELAM / AFP Rebuilding trustThe past 18 months have been particularly challenging, Chandrasekaran added, citing geopolitical disruptions, airspace closures, fuel volatility and the AI171 crash on June 12, 2025. Looking ahead, he said Air India must focus on safety, customer trust, operational execution and cost discipline. “The most important thing Air India should aspire to have is trust in the minds of people,” he said. “Our safety record should not just match the best airlines in the world; it should be better than the best.” Photo by REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade Managing costsThe acquisition of the airline has not gone according to plan so far, with the Air India Group—it comprises Air India and Air India Express—reporting a combined net loss of Rs 22,238 crore in 2025-26, more than double its Rs 10,859 crore loss in the previous financial year. Air India has sought around Rs 10,000 crore ($1.5 billion) in fresh equity from Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, which owns a 25.1-percent stake in Air India. At the town hall, Chandrasekaran made cost discipline one of the priorities for Air India's next phase: “Every individual in Air India can contribute to improving cost efficiency.” Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images New CEOTaking the stage as Air India’s incoming CEO, Gebremariam said safety and operational consistency are at the centre of his plans: “A safety-first culture has to be our number one priority. It is not enough to say it. We must live it every day.” Recalling his time in Mumbai during the 1990s, he said Air India had then been at the top of the industry. “Now I will have the opportunity to again make it a strong brand,” he said. Photo by Nadine Hutton/Bloomberg via Getty Images Wilson signs offOutgoing CEO Wilson thanked Chandrasekaran, the board and Air India employees for their support during the past four years. He said significant progress had been made, but the transformation remained unfinished. “Air India's best days are still ahead,” he said, adding that he would remain the airline's “biggest cheerleader from the sidelines”. Photo by REUTERS/Jaimi Joy