Air India Incoming CEO Tewolde Gebremariam Gets Security Clearance, To Take Charge on September 1, 2026
Air India's incoming CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam has received security clearance and is set to formally take charge on Thursday. An Ethiopian national whose appointment was announced on August 5, he replaces Campbell Wilson. Gebremariam recently told staff that cost discipline, sustainable profitability, safety, and operational reliability are top priorities.
Air India's incoming CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam has received security clearance and is expected to formally take charge of the airline on Thursday, September 1, according to sources. The clearance clears the final regulatory hurdle for the veteran aviation executive to assume operational control of the Tata Group-owned carrier.
An Ethiopian national, Gebremariam's appointment at Air India's helm was announced on August 5 and he is taking over at a time when the airline is working on its ambitious expansion plans amid multiple external headwinds. When contacted regarding Gebremariam getting security clearance, an Air India spokesperson confirmed the development. The sources said Gebremariam would be officially taking charge on Thursday. Air India Express Suspends 8 Crew Members for Missing Post-Flight Breathalyser Deadline.
Tewolde Gebremariam Gets Security Clearance
Air India’s incoming CEO and Managing Director, Tewolde Gebremariam, has received security clearance and is expected to formally take charge of the airline: Air India Spokesperson
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2026
Leadership Transition at Loss-Making Carrier
Gebremariam, who is the second foreign CEO and MD to head loss-making Air India, replaces New Zealander Campbell Wilson. Wilson led the airline through the initial phase of its multi-year post-privatisation turnaround and consolidation under the Tata umbrella.
Gebremariam brings decades of international aviation leadership, having previously spearheaded Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s largest and consistently profitable carrier network. His formal assumption of duties comes as Air India integrates wide-body aircraft deliveries, streamlines engineering supply chains, and prepares for deeper domestic and international network consolidation.
Focus on Sustainable Profitability and Operational Reliability
During a townhall with the staff on September 28, Gebremariam said cost discipline must become part of Air India's culture as well as identified sustainable profitability, safety and operational reliability as key priorities for the airline.
Emphasising direct workforce participation in the carrier's turnaround, he outlined plans to incentivize performance across all functional tiers. He also plans to introduce programmes that reward employees for ideas that deliver measurable cost savings and improve operational efficiency.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2026 11:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
