Air India CEO Campbell Wilson resigns, to stay till successor takes charge

Air India on Tuesday announced that its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson has resigned and will step down later this year.

Wilson had informed Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran of his intention to step down in 2026 as early as 2024 and has since been working to ensure a smooth leadership transition, the airline said in a statement.

He will continue in his role until a successor is appointed and takes charge, it added.

Wilson, a native of New Zealand, has been at the helm of the Tata Group-owned airline for four years as CEO and MD.

His tenure saw the devastating crash of London-bound Air India flight on June 12, 2025, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, along with casualties on the ground.

Wilson said the past four years since the airline’s privatisation had seen the acquisition and successful merger of four airlines, a shift to private sector practices, and an overhaul of leadership, workforce, and operational processes.

“It has seen the complete modernization of systems, the launch of new physical products, and deployment of elevated service standards on ground and in the air, as well as 100 additional aircraft added to the fleet,” he added.

During his tenure, the airline also initiated the establishment of South Asia’s largest training academy, flight simulator facilities, a flying school, and a greenfield maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) base.

“With these foundational blocks now settling and a brief window until deliveries from the nearly 600-strong aircraft orderbook commence in earnest from 2027, the time is right for me to hand over the reins for the next phase of Air India’s rise,” Wilson said.

Air India Chairman Chandrasekaran said the board appreciated Wilson’s leadership over the past four years, noting that the airline had navigated multiple external challenges, including post-pandemic supply chain disruptions affecting aircraft deliveries and retrofit programmes, as well as geopolitical headwinds.

The Air India board has constituted a committee to identify Wilson’s successor in the coming months, the statement said.