Mumbai, April 7 Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson has resigned after leading the Tata Group-owned airline for four years, a period marked by multiple challenges, including the fatal AI171 crash in June last year.
The Air India board has formed a committee that will identify a successor in the coming months, the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Wilson had informed Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran of his intention to step down in 2026 in 2024, and since then, he has been working to ensure that the organization and leadership team are stable for the transition," it said.
Wilson had been under pressure since June 12 last year following the crash of the airline's flight bound for London shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, which killed 241 of the 242 people on board.
He had also faced criticism for various regulatory lapses.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is investigating the crash, has already submitted its preliminary report, and the final report is expected to be submitted in June this year.
Meanwhile, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran praised Wilson's contribution and said that under his leadership, Air India made progress on several fronts.
"Campbell and his team have demonstrated tenacity and resolve, and they have brought together an organization with diverse backgrounds, all working towards the shared goal of building a new Air India," he said.
Wilson, a veteran of Singapore Airlines, took over the airline in September 2022, following the privatization of the then government-owned carrier in January of that year.
Within days of taking over, Air India announced a five-year comprehensive transformation plan, Vihan, focusing on five key pillars: exceptional customer experience, robust operations, industry-best talent, industry leadership, and commercial efficiency and profitability.
As part of this plan, the airline implemented a detailed roadmap with clear milestones, focusing on dramatically growing both its network and fleet, taking a leadership position in technology, sustainability, and innovation, while aggressively investing in the best industry talent.
"With these foundational elements now in place and with a brief window before deliveries from the orderbook of nearly 600 aircraft begin in earnest from 2027, it is the right time for me to hand over the reins for the next phase of Air India's growth," Wilson said in the statement.
At a conference in the national capital last year, Wilson mentioned that the airline was facing a loss of over Rs 4,000 crore due to the closure of Pakistani airspace.
Air India's low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, also does not have a head since March 19 this year, following the exit of Managing Director Aloke Singh after he completed his 5-year tenure.
Air India Express has yet to announce Singh's replacement.