Air India has named former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam its new CEO, a move that could signal a fresh start amid a storm of soaring losses and lingering safety problems.
Gebremariam succeeds Campbell Wilson, who resigned in April after a four‑year stint began when the Tata Group bought the state‑owned carrier in 2022. The board chose him after an exhaustive search, praising his "leadership and operational experience" to guide the airline’s next phase of growth.
Air India flies almost 5,000 weekly flights to 91 destinations with a 198‑aircraft fleet. But the airline’s fortunes have faltered: a record loss of about $2.3 bn was posted last month and the fleet has seen a one‑third contraction in international routes.
The new CEO faces multiple challenges: a fatal crash last June over Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives, a pending final accident report due in October, and a string of operational incidents—including a Delhi‑Vancouver flight that returned after eight hours in Canada because it lacked clearance.
Experts note Gebremariam had steered Ethiopian Airlines through the 2019 Boeing 737 Max tragedy and the COVID‑19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the airline tripled its fleet and became Africa’s most profitable carrier. The challenge in India will be to rebuild workplace culture, lift employee morale, accelerate fleet expansion and refurbish network plans to stem losses.
Winlast markers include maintaining safety checks, managing regulatory scrutiny amid rising costs, and navigating disrupted international routes due to the ongoing Iran‑Russia war.
The airline has not yet announced the date of Gebremariam’s in‑service takeover, promising details in the near future. In the meantime, leaders from the Tata Group say the airline’s stabilization phase is complete, and the focus now shifts to execution and expansion.
