‘The sky is the limit’: Air India incoming CEO Tewolde Gebremariam sees enormous potential in airline

Air India's incoming CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam on Monday called for the support and cooperation of employees as he outlined his priorities for the Tata Group-owned airline, stressing that operational excellence begins with getting the basics right every day.

Addressing employees for the first time at a townhall, Gebremariam said Air India had a powerful heritage, a strong brand and enormous potential, and expressed confidence that the airline could regain its position among the industry's leading carriers. “If we do the right things at the right time, the sky is the limit,” he said.

Safety and operational excellence

Gebremariam, who previously headed Ethiopian Airlines Group for more than 11 years, said safety must remain the airline's foremost priority. Employees, he added, should feel empowered to flag concerns and stop an operation if something does not appear right.

He identified reliable day-to-day operations as the foundation for improving customer experience, pointing to punctual departures and arrivals, timely baggage delivery and clean aircraft as basic areas that need consistent attention.

The incoming CEO also stressed the need to minimise disruptions and ensure that any problems are handled professionally, with customers kept at the centre of the response.

Recalling his association with Mumbai during his time at Ethiopian Airlines in the 1990s, Gebremariam said Air India was then regarded as an industry leader. He said he now had an opportunity to help rebuild the airline as a strong global brand.

Chandrasekaran stresses trust, cost discipline

Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, who formally introduced Gebremariam at the townhall, said the airline's next phase must be anchored in safety, customer trust, operational execution and greater cost discipline.

“The most important thing Air India should aspire to have is trust in the minds of people,” Chandrasekaran said, adding that its safety standards should be better than the best.

He acknowledged that the past 18 months had been particularly difficult, citing geopolitical disruptions, airspace closures, fuel-price volatility and the AI171 accident as factors that affected operations and performance.

Wilson backs next phase of transformation

Outgoing CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said Air India's transformation would continue and that the airline's best days were still ahead. He also said he would remain a strong supporter of the airline from the sidelines and expressed confidence that Gebremariam would take it forward successfully.

Gebremariam's appointment was announced on August 5 following an extensive search overseen by a dedicated board committee. He brings nearly four decades of experience at Ethiopian Airlines Group, including more than 11 years as its CEO, and will assume charge after receiving the necessary approvals.

His appointment comes as Air India continues a five-year transformation programme while dealing with financial pressures, operational challenges and the overhaul of legacy systems, fleet and organisational culture.

Tata Group took over Air India from the government in January 2022, and Singapore Airlines subsequently acquired a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline.

The incoming CEO will be the second foreign chief executive to lead Air India since its privatisation.