Air India may get new CEO ahead of 2027 as Tata Sons scouts global talent: Report

Air India has faced heightened scrutiny following the Ahmedabad crash last year that killed 260 people

• Tata Sons may revamp leadership at Air India and Air India Express.
• Group chairman Chandrasekaran has spoken with CEOs of major UK and US airlines
• Air India faces losses, operational issues, and scrutiny post-crash.

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Air India owner Tata Sons has begun exploring a leadership overhaul for its aviation business, holding discussions with senior executives from leading international airlines, the Economic Times has reported. Group chairman N Chandrasekaran is understood to have spoken with chief executives of at least two major carriers based in the UK and the US as potential successors to current Air India CEO Campbell Wilson.

People familiar with the matter told the Economic Times that Chandrasekaran, who also serves as chairman of Air India, has grown dissatisfied with the speed of execution and on-ground improvements at the airline. While Wilson's current term runs until June 2027, Air India could see a change at the top well before that date, sources indicated to the Economic Times.

Similar changes may be on the cards at Air India Express as well. The Economic Times reported that the tenure of its CEO, Aloke Singh, is also scheduled to end in 2027, and leadership transitions are being evaluated across the group's airline businesses.

Chandrasekaran has held regular performance review meetings with Wilson in recent months, people aware of the discussions told the Economic Times. Tata Sons declined to comment on the developments. A person close to Wilson said he is part of the succession planning process and has informed the board of his inability to continue beyond 2027. However, group officials disputed this version, telling the Economic Times that no such board-level discussion has taken place and that the transition planning is being driven directly by the group chairman.

Wilson, a New Zealander who joined Air India in July 2022, unveiled a five-year transformation strategy aimed at turning the carrier into a global competitor while improving financial performance. His tenure has delivered mixed results, the Economic Times noted. The merger of Vistara into Air India was executed smoothly, and the airline expanded its fleet and capacity, at times overtaking market leader IndiGo on select metro routes.

At the same time, progress on the transformation plan has been hampered by prolonged global supply chain disruptions. Delays in aircraft deliveries and refurbishment of older planes have affected service quality and on-time performance, particularly on long-haul routes to Europe and North America, the Economic Times reported. Recurrent technical issues with wide-body aircraft have further strained operations.

"We should have received 28 brand new aircraft by now. But the actual number of new aircraft designed by and for Air India that we have received is zero," Wilson was quoted as saying by the Economic Times, highlighting the impact of supply chain constraints.

The airline has also faced heightened scrutiny following the Ahmedabad crash last year that killed 260 people. While a preliminary investigation has not pointed to faults in the aircraft or Air India's engineering practices, the Economic Times reported that senior government officials chose to engage directly with Tata Group's top leadership rather than Wilson in the aftermath-an episode seen as weighing on his future at the airline.

In addition, multiple senior executives, including Wilson, have received show-cause notices from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for alleged violations and non-compliance, including an instance involving operation of an aircraft with an expired licence, the Economic Times said.

Financial pressures have added to the challenge. Airspace restrictions due to Pakistan's closure have forced longer flight routes, hurting profitability. Air India and Air India Express together reported a loss of ₹10,859 crore in FY25 on revenue of ₹78,636 crore, making them the largest loss-making entities within the Tata Group, the Economic Times reported.

With consolidation, integration and brand revival largely completed since Air India's return to the Tata fold, Chandrasekaran is now seeking stronger leadership capabilities. The next phase, sources told the Economic Times, will demand sharper execution, deeper operational expertise and a more customer-focused approach to drive global competitiveness and sustainable profitability.