Air India undergoing 'challenging time', focus on execution: N Chandrasekaran
New Delhi, April 10
Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran told Air India staff on Friday that the airline is facing a challenging period and urged employees to focus on execution and cost discipline.
"While our future is bright and we have laid a solid foundation for our ambition, we are going through a challenging time," Chandrasekaran said, adding that the key "is staying focused on execution."
"Our focus should be on what is within our control, where we can improve, be precise on costs and remain grounded in the reality of the situation," he added.
Chandrasekaran stressed that safety is of "utmost importance and non-negotiable" for Air India, central to decisions across operations, engineering, training and customer experience.
"Work together, keep the customer in mind. The journey has just begun, and we have a long way to go. Keep at it. We will get there," Chandrasekaran said.
Chandrasekaran's comments come amid leadership and operational changes in airlines with Chief Executive Campbell Wilson announcing his intention to step down in 2026. The Tata-owned carrier informed that Campbell will stay in the role until his successor is in place.
Air India fell under intense regulatory scrutiny since the June 2025 crash of a Boeing 787 near Ahmedabad, which killed 260 individuals.
Subsequent reports said that Air India was reprimanded for safety lapses, including flying an aircraft multiple times without a valid airworthiness certificate and without proper emergency equipment checks.
Amid the US-Iran war, Air India had cancelled around 2,500 flights to West Asia over three weeks, only running 30 per cent of its normal Middle East schedule.
Pilot body Airlines Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) in March urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to initiate a thorough inquiry into the decision-making processes within Air India, particularly the roles of the Vice President - Operations and the Crew Scheduling Department.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a frequent flyer, I've noticed some improvements in service, but the operational chaos is real. Flight cancellations to the Middle East were handled poorly with little communication. "Keeping the customer in mind" needs to be more than just words. Hope they walk the talk.
It's a massive turnaround project. You can't fix decades of issues in a couple of years. The Tata group has a proven track record. We need to give them time and support. The Ahmedabad crash was a tragedy, but let's hope it leads to a stronger safety culture. Jai Hind!
Flying without a valid airworthiness certificate? This is shocking and shows a deep systemic failure. The DGCA inquiry is a must. Cost discipline is important, but safety is non-negotiable, as Chandrasekaran himself said. The execution focus must start with fixing these fundamental breaches.
My father worked for Air India in the 80s. It was a matter of pride. Seeing it struggle hurts. The Tatas are our best hope for revival. Employees need to unite, shed the old "sarkari" mindset, and work as one team. The journey is long, but the destination is worth it. ✈️
The CEO stepping down in 2026 adds to the uncertainty. Leadership stability is key during a transformation. While external factors like the US-Iran war are uncontrollable, the internal safety and scheduling issues are within their control. That's where the "execution" focus should be laser-sharp.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.