Wilson, whose term was set to end in 2027, will remain CEO and MD until a successor is appointed.
23 hours ago
Abhishek Dey
Getty Images
Air India's chief executive officer Campbell Wilson has resigned as the airline deals with challenges, including financial losses and the aftermath of a deadly crash last year that killed 260 people.
Wilson, whose term was set to end in 2027, will stay in the role until a successor is appointed, Air India said.
A former Singapore Airlines executive, Wilson was brought in to lead a turnaround after Tata Group bought Air India from the Indian government in 2022 following years of losses.
During his tenure, Air India began refurbishing aircraft and restructuring operations but also struggled with safety concerns and operational challenges.
Air India board has formed a committee that will find Wilson's successor in the coming months.
The airline said that Wilson told Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran in 2024 that he wanted to step down in 2026 and that he had been working to ensure the organisation was "on a stable footing for the transition".
"The time is right for me to hand over the reins for the next phase of Air India's rise," said Wilson.
In an internal message to Air India employees, Wilson said the company had undergone "a comprehensive transformation - modernising systems, launching new products, and raising service and operational standards across ground and air".
"We've added over 100 aircraft, nearly completed the refit of legacy narrowbodies, and begun inducting widebodies with new interiors. At the same time, we've laid critical infrastructure... to support our long-term ambitions," he said.
Air India suffered years of neglect when it was under state ownership. The airline has also posted losses since its return to private ownership four years ago. In 2024-25, Air India and its low-cost arm reported a combined loss of around 98 billion rupees ($1bn; £796m).
Indian regulators are wrapping up an investigation into the crash and are expected to publish a final report by 12 June, the one-year anniversary of the crash.
India's aviation sector is facing pressure from rising costs, disrupted international routes due to the conflict in the Middle East, aircraft delivery delays and tighter regulatory scrutiny.
Last week, Air India's rival IndiGo, which is India's largest airline, named aviation industry veteran Willie Walsh as its new chief to help the company grow amid such pressures.
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