Incoming Air India CEO Tewolde Gebremariam Prioritizes Safety and Operational Excellence

Tewolde Gebremariam, the CEO designate of Air India, announced that establishing a safety first culture is his top priority as the airline enters its next phase of growth. Speaking at a company town hall alongside Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran and outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson, Gebremariam stated that employees must feel empowered to raise concerns and that safety must be lived every day. He also emphasized the need for operational excellence, citing on time departures, on time arrivals, baggage delivery, and clean aircraft as essential basics for improving the customer experience.

Gebremariam, who spent forty years at Ethiopian Airlines Group, was named CEO on August 5 and is scheduled to succeed Campbell Wilson on September 30, pending government security clearance. During his address, he expressed confidence in the brand's potential and used the phrase Make Air India Great Again to describe his vision for the company.

Chairman N Chandrasekaran noted that the past 18 months have been challenging due to fuel volatility, geopolitical disruptions, and the AI171 accident. He stated that the airline must focus on safety, cost discipline, and regaining public trust through rigorous compliance and personal accountability. Outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson welcomed Gebremariam, describing him as a proven leader with deep industry experience.