Veteran aviation executive Campbell Wilson has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, the airline said on Tuesday.

The airline stated that Wilson will continue in his current role until a successor is appointed and assumes charge.

The move formalises a leadership transition that has been under discussion since 2024.

As per Air India, Wilson had conveyed his intention to step down to Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran in 2024 and has since been working towards organisational stability and leadership readiness.

Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, said, “On behalf of the board, I wish to record my deep appreciation for Campbell’s leadership and contribution over the past four years. In addition to the progress mentioned, it is also worth acknowledging the numerous external challenges navigated by the Air India team, including prolonged post-Covid supply chain constraints that have impacted delivery of new aircraft and retrofit programmes as well as major geopolitical and other headwinds. Campbell and his team have demonstrated tenacity and resolve and have aligned an organisation drawn from many backgrounds behind the shared goal of building the new Air India that is now emerging.”

The Air India Board has constituted a committee that will find the successor in the coming months.

Sources indicated to businessline that the decision was communicated to the board last week (Monday, March 30), with a formal transition roadmap expected to be taken up at a board meeting scheduled for early May.

The development comes after a challenging year (2025) for the airline. A combination of airspace closures across Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, geopolitical tensions affecting travel demand, and the AI171 incident resulted in operational disruptions.

Financially, the airline is estimated to be facing losses in the range of ₹8,000–10,000 crore for FY26.

According to sources, the situation has even prompted the board to review its profitability strategy, with the possibility of moving away from the earlier “Road to Profitability” framework.

Meanwhile, in an internal communication to employees, Wilson outlined the progress made since the airline’s privatisation.

He cited the merger of four airlines, modernisation of systems and processes, fleet expansion, and investments in training and maintenance infrastructure as key milestones.

Besides, he added that the airline has inducted over 100 aircraft, initiated infrastructure projects, including a large training academy, and enhanced service and operational standards.

Referring to the upcoming phase of fleet expansion, he said the timing was appropriate to transition leadership ahead of bulk aircraft deliveries expected from 2027.

Furthermore, he acknowledged operational challenges, including supply chain constraints, aircraft delivery delays, geopolitical developments, and airspace restrictions.

Additionally, Wilson noted the role of employees in managing these disruptions.

Earlier this year, Wilson had spoken to businessline about theprogress made under the Vihaan.AI programme, and that Air India’s multi-year turnaround plan remains largely on track.

A majority of the 22 identified lines of improvement are expected to be completed within the originally envisaged FY27–28 timeline.

However, he pointed out that three to four initiatives could extend beyond the planned schedule, as they are dependent on external factors not entirely within the airline’s control, including airspace access and supply chain-related issues, among others.

Even so, he said the service standards achieved so far and the scale of work under way provide a base for sustained improvement and growth.

He added that the reset was irreversible, with no rollback envisaged from the path already taken.

Looking ahead, his successor is expected to face a tough operating environment, with jet fuel prices likely to remain at elevated levels and the restoration of the international network contingent on an early resolution of the Gulf crisis.

A key step

Wilson was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India in 2022, shortly after the Tata Group reacquired the airline from the government.

Notably, his appointment marked a key step in the group’s efforts to professionalise management and accelerate the carrier’s turnaround.

Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, where he led the airline through a phase of expansion and integration.

During his tenure, Scoot strengthened its network presence and operational scale within the Asia-Pacific region.

He has also held multiple leadership roles within the Singapore Airlines Group over two decades, gaining experience across strategy, operations, and commercial functions.

In addition, his background as an international aviation professional was seen as critical in steering Air India through a complex transformation phase.

Published on April 7, 2026