‘Let’s make Air India great again:’ Incoming CEO Tewolde
NEW DELHI: Borrowing from Trump’s MAGA, incoming MD and CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has promised to “make Air India great again.” Speaking at a Town Hall Monday addressed by him, Tata Sons and AI chairman N Chandrasekaran and outgoing AI CEO Campbell Wilson (who will be leaving the airline next week) on Monday, he focussed on safety and operational excellence.“Operational excellence is about getting the basics right every day: on-time departures, on-time arrivals, baggage delivery and clean aircraft. Customer experience is a function of operational excellence. We need to minimise disruptions and when they do occur, handle them professionally and take care of our customers,” said the former Ethiopian Airlines group CEO who will take over as MD and CEO upon getting the required security approval.Chandrasekaran, who had brought AI back to the founder group along with AI Express in Jan 2022 and will step down as chairman of Tata Sons when his current five-year term ends next Feb 20, also focused on safety. The airline’s safety is under a scanner following the deadly Ahmedabad crash last June.“The most important thing Air India should aspire to have is trust in the minds of people. AI must be known for caring about safety above everything else. Our safety record should not just match the best airlines in the world, it should be better than the best,” said Chandra.“For me, bringing Air India back to the Tata Group is one of the most important milestones of my career, a very, very significant event. Air India belongs to a billion people. It is not just another business. It is probably the only business that a billion people talk about, have views on, criticise fiercely and appreciate at times. But one thing we should always remember is that all these one billion people are rooting for Air India. That is our biggest strength,” Chandra added.He acknowledged that the past 18 months had been particularly challenging for the airline, with geopolitical disruptions, airspace closures, fuel volatility and the tragic AI171 accident impacting operations and performance. Looking ahead, he said the airline’s next phase must focus on safety, customer trust, operational execution, cost discipline, stronger focus on consistency in customer experience and greater agility in responding to a rapidly changing operating environment.Emphasising the importance of financial sustainability, he urged employees to help build a stronger culture of cost consciousness. “Every individual in Air India can contribute to improving cost efficiency,” said Chandra.Tewolde said: “It is a special honour for me to join Air India at this historic stage of its transformation journey. I understand that Air India is not just another airline. It is one of the world’s most iconic aviation brands. Air India has a powerful heritage, a strong brand and enormous potential. If we do the right things at the right time, the sky is the limit.”Remembering his time in Mumbai in the 1990s, he mentioned how Air India was at the top of the industry. “Now I will have the opportunity to again make it a strong brand. I am coming from the US, so allow me to borrow a phrase, MAGA. We will Make Air India Great Again.”He highlighted safety as his foremost priority and called on every employee to actively contribute to a stronger safety culture. “A safety-first culture has to be our number one priority. It is not enough to say it. We must live it every day. If something is not right, stop. Every employee should feel empowered to raise concerns, and I will support that culture,” said Tewolde, while stressing the importance of operational excellence, noting that customer experience is ultimately determined by reliable and consistent delivery.Tewolde acknowledged the significant progress made by the airline over the last four years. “A great deal of heavy lifting and foundational work has already been done. I would like to thank the Chairman, Campbell and the entire Air India team for creating that foundation.”Seeking employees’ partnership in Air India’s next chapter, Tewolde added: “I need your support and cooperation. We cannot bring about meaningful change without the commitment of our people. Together, we can build a safer, stronger and truly world-class Air India.”Campbell Wilson said: “I would like to thank the chairman and the board for their guidance, support and trust over the last four years. Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge all Air Indians whose commitment, resilience and hard work have made this transformation possible. As the chairman said, this turnaround is a task that is not yet complete. The transformation will continue, and Air India’s best days are still ahead.”
