Air India Turns to Former Ethiopian Airlines Chief for Next Phase of Revival

August 6, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Air India has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam, the former chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines Group, to lead the carrier as it shifts from restructuring to expansion, handing one of the aviation industry's most closely watched turnaround projects to an executive widely credited with building Africa's largest airline. The appointment, announced by Air India's board on Wednesday, ends Campbell Wilson's tenure at the airline, where he oversaw the initial stages of the Tata Group's effort to rebuild the former state-owned carrier after its acquisition from the Indian government in 2022.

The leadership change comes as Air India enters a new phase of its transformation programme. After integrating multiple airline businesses, committing to record aircraft orders and beginning fleet renewal, the carrier is now expected to improve operational performance while expanding its international network and restoring long-term profitability. Air India's board said it had conducted an international search before unanimously selecting Gebremariam, citing his experience in leading large-scale airline transformation and profitable growth.

Gebremariam spent more than a decade as chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines Group, during which the carrier expanded into Africa's largest airline group by passenger traffic, destinations and fleet. Under his leadership, the airline broadened its long-haul network, invested in maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities, aviation training and cargo operations, while strengthening Addis Ababa's position as a continental hub. His appointment reflects Air India's growing emphasis on operational discipline rather than fleet expansion alone. The airline is seeking to improve reliability, safety, engineering capability and customer service while integrating hundreds of new aircraft into its operations over the coming years.

N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, said the airline had completed its initial stabilisation and integration phase and was now entering a period focused on execution and growth. For Gebremariam, the move marks a return to frontline airline management after stepping down from Ethiopian Airlines in 2022. He said leading Air India represented an opportunity to build a global airline that matched India's growing economic influence.

The transition also signals the end of Wilson's role in one of the most ambitious airline restructurings in recent years. During his tenure, Air India merged operations with other Tata-owned airlines, launched an extensive fleet modernisation programme and introduced new governance structures as part of the group's effort to restore the airline's competitiveness.

Source: FSX Business News