Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Air India considers Singapore Airlines executive for CFO role as losses rise
Air India is considering a Singapore Airlines executive for CFO as the airline seeks a path to profitability.
Singapore Airlines owns a 25.1% stake in Air India and has placed executives in several operational roles at the carrier.
The Air India Group reported a net loss of ₹22,238 crore in FY26, more than double its ₹10,859 crore loss in FY25.
Air India needs substantial funding for its operations, fleet expansion and transformation, raising questions about how much financial support shareholders can sustain.
Air India’s nomination committee must approve any appointment, and it includes Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran and two independent directors.
The candidate’s identity and when they might replace current CFO Sanjay Sharma remain unknown.
Air India is considering an executive from investor Singapore Airlines for its next chief financial officer as its losses rise.
Management has discussed the possible appointment with Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran and Air India chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam, who are understood to support it.
The airline’s nomination and remuneration committee would need to approve any appointment.
Air India Group reported a consolidated net loss of ₹22,238 crore in FY26, up from ₹10,859 crore in FY25.
The identity of the executive under consideration and the timing of any handover from incumbent CFO Sanjay Sharma are not known.
- Who
- Air India is considering an executive from Singapore Airlines for its CFO role.
- What
- The airline has held preliminary discussions about the appointment. Its nomination and remuneration committee would need to approve it.
- When
- The discussions had taken place by 2 November 2026. The exact date is not stated.
- Where
- Air India. The article identifies Mumbai as the dateline.
- Why
- The move would extend Singapore Airlines’ operational involvement into Air India’s financial management as the airline seeks a path to profitability amid rising losses.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tata Group took control of Air India.
Incumbent CFO Sanjay Sharma joined Air India from Tata Projects.
The Singapore government said Air India’s losses did not automatically become liabilities for Singapore Airlines and that the airline would decide whether to provide additional capital.
Emails sent to Air India and Singapore Airlines about the possible appointment remained unanswered.
Mint reported that Air India was considering a Singapore Airlines executive for its next CFO.
- Air India Group net loss, FY26
- ₹22,238 crore
- Air India Group net loss, FY25
- ₹10,859 crore
- Singapore Airlines stake in Air India
- 25.1%
- Air India CFO
- Sanjay Sharma, who joined in June 2024
- Nomination and remuneration committee
- Three members: N. Chandrasekaran, Alice Vaidyan and P. R. Ramesh
What people are saying
Tewolde comes from a system that grooms executives through early exposure to different business functions. Having worked in strong teams that value delegation, it’s no surprise he wants to strengthen his team, ideally with an outsider untainted by internal politics