Air India CEO Campbell Wilson Resigns Amid Persistent Losses, Operational Setbacks: Report

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has stepped down and will remain in place until a successor is found, according to reports. The development came as the airline is facing persistent losses amid the West Asia crisis and heightened scrutiny after the Ahmedabad plane crash last year that killed over 260 people.

Sources told the Hindustan Times that Wilson’s resignation was accepted at a board meeting last week. “He will continue to be in the system until the board finds his successor — to help in a smooth transition — whenever that happens, until September,” one of the people familiar with the matter said.

Campbell’s tenure was scheduled to end in September 2027. There has been no official comment from Air India on the matter.

As per the report, the search

for a successor began in January, after Wilson expressed his wish not to continue after his contract ended. He joined the airline in September 2022 on a five-year contract after Air India was privatised in January that year.

Air India’s Challenges

Wilson’s resignation came as the airline is facing several challenges, including airspace restrictions and rising operational costs in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The war has forced the airline to take longer routes with fuel stops, significantly increasing operational costs – particularly on international routes.

Air India is also facing heightened regulatory scrutiny after the June 12, 2025, crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people aboard and on the ground. Air India is set for a record loss this year that could go as high as Rs 20,000 crore in FY 2026, as per reports.

“The airline should look for someone with strong credibility, global experience in running a complex full-service carrier, familiarity with low-cost operations (for Air India Express), and who is within five years of retirement,” an industry insider was quoted as saying by HT.

Who Will Replace Wilson?

The report said Air India is in advanced talks with candidates for Wilson’s replacement, and a critical meeting in this regard is scheduled next week. However, no candidate has been named so far as a suitable replacement for Wilson.

“The new person (Air India CEO) is expected once the crash report of AI 171 is made public,” a source said.

Air India is not the only airline to see a leadership transition. India’s largest airline, IndiGo, announced on March 10 that CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned ​from his ​position with immediate ⁠effect for personal ​reasons. He was replaced by former British Airways chief William Walsh.