Tata Group Scouting A New CEO As Air India Struggles With Turnaround

NEW DELHI- The Tata Group has started looking for a new Chief Executive Officer to head Air India as the airline is going through a turbulent phase following the Ahmedabad plane crash and has not been able to make a financial turnaround at the required pace after it was taken over from the government as part of the privatization process.

Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has already held preliminary discussions with potential CEO candidates who have experience in managing large airlines, according to people familiar with the issue.

Current CEO Campbell Wilson, whose contract expires in mid-2027, is also reported to be not interested in continuing with the airline. The new appointment would therefore, in a sense, be a friendly parting of ways, according to a source.

The main reason that has triggered the move for a change in guard is that Air India is likely to miss the March 31 target fixed for the airline to break even. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad in June 2025 came as a major setback for Air India and its revival plans.

Although the Tata Group has made significant investments to modernize the fleet and expand routes, the airline’s turnaround has been facing hurdles due to delays in aircraft deliveries and refurbishments that were planned for older planes in the fleet. Safety concerns following the Ahmedabad crash have also emerged as a significant factor hindering the revival of the airline.

Operational challenges such as Pakistan’s closure of airspace to Indian carriers, which has led to longer flying routes and increased operational costs, have further impacted Air India’s financial performance.

New Zealand-born Wilson took over the reins of Air India in July 2022 after the Tata Group acquired the airline from the government. The 53-year-old had a long stint in senior management at Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot.

Air India Express, the Tata Group’s low-cost subsidiary, is also reportedly likely to see a leadership change. (IANS)