Air India Announces CEO Resignation Amid Financial and Regulatory Challenges
Air India confirmed on Tuesday that CEO Campbell Wilson has resigned after nearly four years in charge, as the airline continues to face persistent losses and heightened scrutiny from regulators following a crash last year that killed 260 people.
Wilson, a former Singapore Airlines executive, was brought in in 2022 to steer Air India’s turnaround after years of decline under government ownership. His resignation comes shortly after domestic rival IndiGo appointed aviation veteran Willie Walsh as its new CEO, highlighting growing pressure on India’s largest carriers.
Air India’s board stated that Wilson had informed Chairman N. Chandrasekaran in 2024 of his intention to step down this year. He will continue in the role until a successor is appointed. A board committee has been established to identify Wilson’s replacement in the coming months.
During his tenure, Wilson oversaw a major overhaul of the engineering department and led refurbishment efforts amid supply chain disruptions. Brendan Sobie, a Singapore-based aviation analyst, said: “Over the last four years, Campbell did a good job in very tough circumstances. Finding the right candidate to complete Air India’s transformation will not be easy, especially following IndiGo’s recent CEO appointment.”
The airline has faced regulatory criticism over safety lapses, including operating planes without valid airworthiness certificates and failing to check emergency equipment. In December, Air India acknowledged a need for improvements in process discipline, communication, and compliance culture.
Financially, Air India and its low-cost unit Air India Express reported a combined loss of 98.08 billion rupees ($1.05 billion) in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The losses have been exacerbated by restrictions on flying over Pakistan’s airspace and the broader impact of the Middle East conflict on operations.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 191 aircraft and has placed orders for more than 500 planes.
