Air India CEO Campbell Wilson resigns, to stay until successor is appointed

Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson has resigned but will remain with the airline until a successor is appointed, Hindustan Times (HT) reported, citing people familiar with the matter. His resignation was accepted at a board meeting last week and he will stay on to ensure a smooth leadership transition, one of the people said.

The search for a replacement began in January after Wilson indicated he did not wish to continue beyond his tenure, according to HT. Wilson joined Air India in September 2022 on a five-year contract after the airline’s privatisation earlier that year. His term was scheduled to run until September next year.

Air India is already in advanced discussions with potential candidates and a key meeting on the matter is expected next week, people aware of the development told HT. The contenders are understood to be chief executives of full-service carriers, although names have not been disclosed at this stage.

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The leadership change comes as the airline faces operational disruptions, airspace restrictions linked to the West Asia crisis, aircraft supply constraints and rising costs. Reports cited by HT indicate the airline’s losses could reach ₹20,000 crore in FY2026, adding to challenges following the June 12, 2025 crash of Air India Flight AI171 shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, which killed 241 people.