Air India Appoints Former Ethiopian Airlines Chief as CEO to Lead Airline’s Turnaround

Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, entrusting one of Africa’s most respected aviation leaders with the task of steering the airline through one of the most challenging periods in its modern history.

The appointment marks a major leadership change for the Tata Group-owned carrier as it seeks to accelerate its ambitious transformation while overcoming mounting financial losses, operational hurdles and increased regulatory scrutiny following last year’s fatal Air India crash that claimed 260 lives.

Gebremariam will take over from Campbell Wilson, who resigned in April after leading Air India’s revival since Tata Group regained control of the airline in 2022. Wilson will officially leave office on September 30 after completing his notice period, ensuring a smooth leadership transition.

The former Ethiopian Airlines boss arrives with an impressive global reputation. During his decade-long leadership of Ethiopian Airlines, he transformed the carrier into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline. Under his watch, the airline expanded its international network, nearly tripled its fleet and more than quadrupled its revenue, earning recognition as one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines.

Industry analysts believe his experience in managing crises makes him particularly suited for Air India’s current situation. While leading Ethiopian Airlines, Gebremariam successfully navigated the airline through the COVID-19 pandemic without government financial assistance and also managed the aftermath of the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crisis, demonstrating resilience during periods of unprecedented disruption.

His appointment comes as Air India continues to battle significant financial pressures. According to shareholder Singapore Airlines, the airline recorded losses exceeding $2 billion during the 2025–26 financial year, highlighting the scale of the turnaround required despite major investments by Tata Group in fleet renewal, customer service improvements and brand modernization.

Since returning to Tata ownership, Air India has embarked on one of the aviation industry’s most ambitious restructuring programmes. Under Wilson’s leadership, the airline merged with Vistara, ordered hundreds of new aircraft, refreshed its brand identity and introduced operational reforms aimed at restoring its reputation as a world-class carrier. However, the transformation has been slowed by supply chain challenges, operational disruptions and the aftermath of the deadly crash.

Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran described the airline as entering a critical phase focused on execution and expansion, noting that the initial stages of stabilization and integration have largely been completed. He has previously indicated that Air India’s full turnaround could take up to a decade, underscoring the magnitude of the task now facing Gebremariam.

Aviation experts have largely welcomed the appointment, saying Gebremariam’s proven record in airline transformation, operational excellence and crisis management makes him one of the strongest candidates to lead Air India into its next chapter.

His success will be closely watched not only in India but across the global aviation industry, where Air India’s revival is regarded as one of the most ambitious airline turnaround projects currently underway.