Overview
- Air India said Tuesday it accepted Campbell Wilson’s resignation as CEO and that he will remain in post until the board appoints a replacement, with a committee formed to run the search.
- The airline said Wilson told chairman N. Chandrasekaran in 2024 that he planned to leave in 2026, setting up a managed handover rather than an abrupt exit.
- The transition comes as costs climb due to Pakistan’s airspace closure and conflict in West Asia that force longer routes and fuel stops, aircraft deliveries lag, and group losses are expected to widen after a Rs 98 billion loss in FY2024-25.
- The June 12, 2025 crash of Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London remains under investigation, with a preliminary report already issued and a final AAIB report due by June 12, 2026.
- Wilson’s tenure featured the merger of group airlines, the addition of about 100 aircraft, and a near-600 jet order, while the budget arm Air India Express currently lacks a permanent head, heightening leadership continuity risks.