Air India's new CEO faces financial and safety turbulence

What the report says

Air India has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as its new chief executive, with the airline facing heavy financial strain and continuing fallout from last year’s fatal crash that killed 260 people, according to BBC News. The move comes as the Tata-owned carrier, which was bought from the Indian government in 2022, works through a difficult period marked by operational disruption, reduced international flying and scrutiny over safety and performance.

BBC News reported that Gebremariam, a former head of Ethiopian Airlines, replaces Campbell Wilson, who had led Air India since after the Tata takeover and stepped down in April. Air India said its board chose Gebremariam after a broad search and pointed to his experience in leadership and operations. Chairman N Chandrasekaran said the airline had moved beyond its initial stabilisation phase and was entering a new stage of execution and expansion.

The airline’s challenges include a record loss of nearly $2.3bn last month, a cut of roughly one-third in international operations, and ongoing questions linked to the Ahmedabad-London crash, whose final report is expected in October. BBC News also noted recent operational problems, including a Delhi-Vancouver flight that returned after nearly eight hours because it lacked clearance to enter Canadian airspace.

Aviation experts quoted by the BBC said Gebremariam’s background at Ethiopian Airlines, where he oversaw major growth and managed crises including the 2019 Boeing 737 Max disaster and the pandemic, could help. His task at Air India will likely include rebuilding staff morale, improving safety confidence, and pushing delayed fleet and network plans while the airline seeks a long-term turnaround.