The Tata Group remains committed to building a world-class Air India, even as the airline navigates a challenging operating environment, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said on Friday.
Addressing an employee townhall at Air India group’s headquarters in Gurugram, Chandrasekaran said the airline has reached a “critical stage” in its transformation journey.
“It has been an incredible four years, and Air India group has reached a critical stage of its transformation,” he said.
Accordingly, over 17,000 employees have been hired and onboarded, four airlines have been merged into two, core systems are being modernised, and the fleet is expanding.
Besides, aircraft are undergoing major refurbishment, while network and operational metrics continue to improve, resulting in better customer experience and Net Promoter Scores.
The Chairman’s address comes days after the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Campbell Wilson, resigned due to personal reasons.
Reaffirming the Group’s backing, Chandrasekaran said the Tata Group Board remains fully supportive and will continue to work closely with the airline’s management team.
Furthermore, he noted that employees have shown “great tenacity” in dealing with a “perfect storm”, urging them to maintain the same approach going forward.
“We remain committed to building a world-class airline. Our vision is to connect India to the world, and to establish service standards where there is as much dignity and respect for the passenger in the last row as there is for the passenger in the front row,” he said.
On operational priorities, Chandrasekaran stressed that safety remains central to all decisions.
“Safety is of utmost importance for Air India. It is non-negotiable and sits at the centre of every decision we take across operations, engineering, training and customer experience,” he said.
However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, noting that the broader environment continues to impact the airline industry.
“While our future is bright and we have laid a solid foundation for our ambition, we are going through a challenging time, the impact of which is most visible in the airline industry,” he said.
Additionally, he emphasised the need for execution discipline, cost focus, and operational precision.
“What matters now is staying focused on execution. Our focus should be on what is within our control, where we can improve, be precise on costs, and remain grounded in the reality of the situation,” he added.
Chandrasekaran also advised employees to remain focused amid criticism and maintain a customer-centric approach.
He stated that feedback should be addressed objectively, and teams should continue working together as the transformation journey progresses.
Earlier this week, the airline said that veteran aviation executive Wilson will step down as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India.
The airline said Wilson will continue in his role until a successor is appointed and takes charge, ensuring continuity during a critical phase for the full-service carrier.
Published on April 10, 2026