Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Air India CEO-Designate Sets Safety, Reliability and Profitability Priorities
Air India is preparing for a new leader named Tewolde Gebremariam.
He says keeping passengers and employees safe must come first.
He also wants flights to be dependable and the airline to make a sustainable profit.
Employees are encouraged to speak up whenever they see a safety problem.
The airline wants to communicate clearly and recover faster when flights are disrupted.
Air India has already merged some airlines and upgraded aircraft and technology.
It is still facing expensive fuel, restricted airspace and other challenges.
Gebremariam says growth should happen carefully and should not create more losses.
He will officially take charge after receiving the required approvals.
Tewolde Gebremariam named safety, operational reliability and sustainable profitability as Air India’s priorities.
He urged employees to report safety concerns and help strengthen the airline’s safety culture.
Gebremariam will become Air India’s CEO and managing director after regulatory approvals.
The airline is seeking better revenue and cost performance amid fuel prices, airspace restrictions and geopolitical uncertainty.
Air India’s transformation includes mergers, fleet upgrades, technology investments and organizational changes.
- Who
- Tewolde Gebremariam, Air India’s CEO-designate and managing director, along with Air India employees.
- What
- Gebremariam outlined safety, operational dependability, customer service, cost discipline and sustainable profitability as priorities.
- When
- He addressed employees at a town hall on Monday and will assume office after regulatory approvals.
- Where
- At an Air India company-wide town hall; the location was not specified.
- Why
- Air India is entering the next phase of its transformation while facing safety scrutiny, financial losses, fuel-price pressures, airspace restrictions and geopolitical uncertainty.
- Incoming chief executive
- Tewolde Gebremariam
- Top priority
- Passenger and operational safety
- Operational goals
- More dependable departures and arrivals, better baggage handling and clearer disruption communication
- Profitability plan
- Increase revenue across international operations, commercial activities and cargo while controlling costs
- Transformation progress
- Air India and Vistara were merged, while Air India Express and AIX Connect were combined
- External pressures
- Airspace restrictions, elevated jet-fuel prices, geopolitical conflict and uncertainty in international markets
- Reported losses
- Consolidated net loss was reported as ₹22,238 crore in FY26, compared with ₹10,859 crore in FY25 and ₹6,677 crore in FY24
