Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Air India's Decade-Long Turnaround Amid Challenges
Air India, owned by Tata Sons, is going through a big transformation.
The chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, says it will take 5 to 10 years to make Air India a great global airline.
This is because the airline has a lot of old planes, outdated technology, and needs to train many new staff.
It's also facing challenges like airspace closures, high fuel costs, and delays in getting new planes.
Despite these problems, Air India is making some progress.
They've improved their planes and customer satisfaction is going up.
However, the airline is still losing a lot of money.
Some experts are worried about the long timeline and want to know how Tata Sons will support Air India until it becomes profitable.
Air India's turnaround is expected to take 5-10 years, according to Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran.
The airline faced significant challenges in FY26, including airspace closures, high fuel costs, and the AI171 crash.
Air India and Air India Express posted combined losses of ₹22,238 crore in FY26, with revenue falling nearly 9%.
Despite financial struggles, Air India has made progress in refurbishing its fleet and improving customer satisfaction.
Analysts question the extended timeline and the lack of a clear roadmap to profitability.
- Who
- N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons
- What
- Air India's turnaround and financial performance
- When
- FY26 (2025-26)
- Where
- India
- Why
- To rebuild Air India into a globally competitive carrier and symbol of national capability
Long-Term Vision
Short-Term Profitability
Transformation Timeline
Long-Term Vision
Chandrasekaran emphasizes a 5-10 year transformation period, focusing on long-term institutional capability and national ambition.
Short-Term Profitability
Analysts question the extended timeline, expressing concerns about investor and bank confidence in the absence of a clear roadmap to profitability.
- Chairman
- N. Chandrasekaran
- Air India's Loss (FY26)
- ₹15,368 crore
- Air India Express's Loss (FY26)
- ₹6,767 crore
- Combined Revenue (FY26)
- ₹71,870 crore
- Net Promoter Score (June 2026)
- +42
- Wide-Body Fleet Refurbishment Completion
- End of FY28
- Tata Sons Ownership
- 73.82%
- Singapore Airlines Ownership
- 25.1%
Sources
'Every great airline is built over decades': Tata Sons Chairman says Air India's turnaround is a 5 10 yr mission
Air India rebuilding will take a decade, says Tata chief
Tata Sons' Chandrasekaran says Air India turnaround could take a decade amid deepening losses