Campbell Wilson has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India amid mounting financial pressures and a slower-than-expected turnaround of the Tata Group-owned carrier, Air India announced on Tuesday.The carrier, in a statement, said, “Mr Wilson had conveyed his intention to step down in 2026 to Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran and, since then, has been working to ensure the organisation and leadership team is on a stable footing for the transition. He will remain in the role until his successor is announced and in place.”Air India has also constituted a panel to find a successor for the CEO and MD roles.Wilson said, “The four years since Air India’s privatisation have seen the acquisition and successful merger of four airlines, an evolution from public to private sector practices, along with renewal of the leadership team, workforce, culture and ways of operating. It has seen the complete modernisation of systems, the launch of new physical products, and deployment of elevated service standards on ground and in the air, as well as 100 additional aircraft added to the fleet.”He added, “With these foundational blocks now settling and a brief window until deliveries from the nearly 600-strong aircraft order book commence in earnest from 2027, the time is right for me to hand over the reins for the next phase of Air India’s rise.”Wilson, who took over in July 2022 on a five-year contract, will continue in his role during the notice period until a successor is appointed. The airline had already initiated a search for his replacement in recent months, even before his formal exit.His departure comes at a critical juncture for Air India, which is still undergoing a complex restructuring after returning to the Tata Group in 2022 following decades as a state-run carrier.There have been several issues affecting the legacy carrier.
Mounting losses, cost pressures
Air India has continued to face financial strain despite efforts to revive operations. Rising operational costs, longer international routes due to airspace restrictions, and delays in fleet upgrades have added to the airline’s burden.Industry-wide supply chain disruptions post-Covid have also slowed aircraft refurbishment and delivery schedules, affecting efficiency and expansion plans.
Slow turnaround after Tata takeover
The airline’s revival has taken longer than anticipated since its privatisation. Having operated as a public sector undertaking since its nationalisation in 1953, Air India required an extensive overhaul across operations, fleet, and service standards.While the Tata Group has initiated major reforms, including fleet modernisation and integration with Air India Express, progress has been gradual.
Shadow of AI-171 crash probe
Wilson’s exit also comes as the airline awaits the final report into the AI-171 Ahmedabad crash in June last year. According to sources cited by ANI, the leadership transition may align with the release of the report.Leadership churn in aviation sectorWilson’s resignation follows a recent leadership change at IndiGo, where CEO Pieter Elbers also stepped down last month. IndiGo has already named a successor, expected to take charge by August, while Air India continues its search.
Who is Campbell Wilson
Wilson brought over three decades of aviation experience to Air India. Before joining the airline, he served as CEO of Scoot, the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines.He began his career with Singapore Airlines in 1996 and held leadership roles across Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, including as founding CEO of Scoot. He later served as Senior Vice President (Sales and Marketing) at Singapore Airlines before returning to Scoot as CEO in 2020.(With inputs from agencies)
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