The CEO of Air India has decided to resign from his position before completing his term after attempting to revive the airline from financial losses and the repercussions of a plane crash.
Foreign news agencies reported on 7 Apr 2026 that Mr. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air India, has announced his resignation amid the airline's ongoing losses and the impact of a severe plane crash last year that claimed 260 lives.
Air India stated that Wilson, whose term was originally set to end in 2027, will continue in his current role until a successor is appointed. The airline's board has established a committee to find a replacement for Wilson within the next few months.
Mr. Wilson, a former Singapore Airlines executive, was brought in to lead the turnaround after the Tata Group reacquired Air India from the Indian government in 2022, following years of financial losses.
During his tenure, Air India began upgrading its fleet and restructuring operations, while simultaneously confronting safety issues and operational challenges.
The airline revealed that Wilson had informed Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Air India's Chairman, as early as 2024 of his intention to step down in 2026, and he has worked to ensure the organization is "stable enough for the transition."
"The time has come for me to pass the baton for the next phase of Air India's journey," Wilson stated in an internal message to Air India employees. "The company has undergone a comprehensive transformation, including modernizing systems, launching new products, and elevating service and operational standards both on the ground and in the air."
"We have added over 100 new aircraft, nearly completed the refurbishment of older narrow-body planes, and begun introducing wide-body aircraft with redesigned interiors. At the same time, we have laid critical infrastructure foundations to support our long-term goals," Wilson added.
Air India faced years of neglect under government ownership and has continued to incur losses since returning to the private sector four years ago. In fiscal year 2024-2025, Air India and its low-cost subsidiaries reported combined losses of approximately 98 billion rupees (about 34 billion baht).
The June last year crash of a flight on the Ahmedabad-London route represented a major setback for Air India's development.
Indian regulatory authorities are finalizing their investigation into the crash and are expected to release a full report by 12 June, marking the one-year anniversary of the incident.
Meanwhile, India's aviation sector is under pressure from rising costs, disruptions to international routes due to Middle East conflicts, aircraft delivery delays, and stricter regulatory oversight.
Last week, IndiGo, India’s largest airline and a competitor, appointed aviation veteran Willie Walsh as its new CEO to help the company grow amid these challenges.
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Source:bbc