Air India CEO-designate Tewolde outlines growth priorities

Air India CEO and Managing Director-designate Tewolde Gebremariam has identified safety, operational reliability and sustainable profitability as key priorities as the airline continues its transformation and prepares for its next phase of growth, according to industry sources.

Gebremariam, who will take up the role after receiving the necessary regulatory approvals, outlined these priorities during his first company-wide town hall with Air India employees, the sources said.

He highlighted the progress made since Air India returned to the Tata Group, including the merger and integration of Air India and Vistara, while pointing to further opportunities as the airline works to strengthen its position as a global carrier, ANI reported.

Industry sources quoted Tewolde as saying that India’s favourable demographics, economic growth, geographic location and large global diaspora provide a strong foundation for Air India’s expansion.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the airline continues to operate in a challenging environment, with geopolitical developments, airspace restrictions affecting Indian carriers, elevated fuel prices and uncertainty across key international markets presenting ongoing challenges.

Tewolde said safety would remain Air India’s foremost priority, urging employees to proactively report concerns and contribute to strengthening the airline’s safety culture.

Operational reliability was also highlighted as a key focus, with Tewolde stressing the need to improve on-time performance, baggage handling and disruption management to strengthen customer confidence. He also called for greater empowerment of frontline employees to support faster decision-making and more effective service recovery.

On financial performance, Tewolde said Air India needs to improve both revenue and cost performance as it works towards sustainable profitability, according to industry sources.

The airline is exploring revenue opportunities across its international network, commercial operations and cargo business, while cost discipline will need to become a responsibility across the organisation. Tewolde also emphasised that Air India’s growth should be pursued in a disciplined manner, with expansion focused on profitability and sustainability.

The airline will continue to assess network efficiency, fleet deployment and operational structures as it seeks to strengthen its long-term competitiveness.

Tewolde also highlighted the importance of greater integration across the Air India Group, saying the group would look to streamline operations and create synergies while keeping customer needs at the centre.

He thanked Air India’s more than 24,000 employees worldwide for their contribution to the airline’s transformation, particularly during the complex integration of Air India and Vistara.

Industry sources said Tewolde expressed confidence that continued focus on safety, operational reliability, financial discipline, teamwork and customer service would support Air India’s efforts to strengthen its position in global aviation.