Tata Sons, owner of Air India, has begun discussions with senior executives from leading international airlines to identify potential successors for the airline’s top leadership, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Group chairman N Chandrasekaran has reportedly met with CEOs of at least two major UK- and US-based carriers as possible candidates to succeed Air India CEO Campbell Wilson. Sources say Chandrasekaran has grown impatient with the pace of operational improvements at Air India.
Wilson’s current term is set to end in June 2027. Air India Express, the group’s low-cost carrier, is also expected to see leadership changes when its CEO, Aloke Singh, completes his term in 2027. People familiar with the discussions indicate that a change at Air India could happen even before Wilson’s term ends. Chandrasekaran has reportedly conducted regular performance reviews with Wilson over recent months.
Tata Sons has not commented on the reports. A person close to Wilson said he is aware of the succession planning and has informed the board that he cannot continue beyond 2027. Group officials denied that any formal board-level discussion on this has taken place.
Wilson, a New Zealander who joined Air India in July 2022, had proposed a five-year transformation plan to enhance the airline’s global competitiveness and financial performance. While the merger of Vistara into Air India and fleet expansion were successfully implemented, the plan faced delays due to global supply chain challenges. These delays affected aircraft induction and refurbishment, placing pressure on service quality and on-time performance.
Wilson noted that although 28 new aircraft were expected, none had been delivered on schedule, citing supply chain disruptions as a major factor. Operations have also faced increased scrutiny since last year’s crash that killed 260 people, although preliminary investigations did not find faults with the aircraft or engineering practices.
Following the crash, government officials reportedly engaged directly with Tata leadership rather than Wilson, which may have influenced succession planning. Multiple senior executives, including Wilson, have received show-cause notices from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for alleged regulatory violations, including operating aircraft with expired licences.
Air India’s profitability has also been affected by Pakistan’s airspace closure, forcing longer flight routes. In FY25, Air India and Air India Express together recorded a loss of ₹10,859 crore on revenue of ₹78,636 crore, making them the largest loss-making units in the Tata Group.
With the airline now through the major phases of consolidation, integration, and brand revival, Tata Sons is reportedly seeking leadership with stronger execution skills, a customer-focused approach, and global experience to guide Air India into its next phase of growth, competitiveness, and sustained profitability.
