Tewolde Gebremariam, the former group chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, addressed Air India employees at a town hall on Monday, 7 September, in his first public appearance as the Tata Group-owned carrier’s new chief executive and managing director, according to Forbes India. He was appointed in August 2026, succeeding Campbell Wilson, who had led Air India through its post-privatisation turnaround.
A Veteran of African Aviation
Gebremariam joined Ethiopian Airlines in 1985 and spent more than 36 years at the carrier, becoming group chief executive in 2011, according to Wikipedia. During his tenure he oversaw the airline’s growth from roughly $1 billion to $4.5 billion in revenue, nearly tripled its fleet from 33 to 130 aircraft, and helped lift annual passenger numbers to around 12 million before the Covid-19 pandemic. He also guided the airline through the aftermath of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash before retiring in March 2022 for health reasons.
Priorities at Air India
Speaking to staff, Gebremariam said Air India carries “an incredible legacy” and described building “a world-class global airline that reflects India’s extraordinary economic potential” as a uniquely exciting opportunity, Forbes India reported. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran, addressing the same town hall, said the airline’s most important task was to build public trust and that safety must come “above everything else.” Air India has described the leadership change as a shift from a stabilisation and fleet-renewal phase under Wilson to a new period of execution and expansion.
Why It Matters
Air India’s turnaround since Tata Group reacquired it in 2022 has been closely watched as a test of whether the airline can shed its reputation for poor service and become a genuine long-haul competitor to Gulf and Asian carriers. Bringing in an executive credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into one of Africa’s most profitable airline groups signals that Air India’s owners want operational discipline and network growth to match the fleet orders and cabin overhauls already under way.
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