Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Monday addressed the airline's staff and emphasised the need to focus on safety and build a stronger culture of cost consciousness.
Air India's incoming CEO Tewolde Gebremariam and outgoing chief Campbell Wilson were also present at the meeting.
Chandrasekaran, who is the Air India Chairman, said the airline's next phase must focus on safety, customer trust, operational execution and cost discipline.
1 September 2026
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"The most important thing Air India should aspire to have is trust in the minds of people," he said, and added that its safety record should be better than the best.
He urged the staff to help build a stronger culture of cost consciousness.
Chandrasekaran also acknowledged that the past 18 months had been particularly challenging for the airline, with geopolitical disruptions, airspace closures, fuel volatility and the tragic AI171 accident impacting operations and performance.
At the meeting, Chandrasekaran formally introduced Gebremariam to the staff.
On August 5, Air India announced the appointment of Gebremariam as the CEO and MD after a comprehensive search, overseen by a dedicated board committee.
He comes with nearly four decades of experience at Ethiopian Airlines Group, including as its CEO for over 11 years.
Tata Group took over Air India from the government in January 2022, and later Singapore Airlines acquired a 25.1% stake in the airline.
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"Led by Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, employees came together at a town hall to welcome Air India's new CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, alongside outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson, marking the next chapter in Air India's transformation journey," the airline said in a post on X.
