Air India has officially appointed industry veteran Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO, tasking him with the monumental challenge of stabilizing the carrier amidst significant financial and operational hurdles. Gebremariam arrives with a formidable track record, having spent over a decade at the helm of Ethiopian Airlines. During his tenure there, he was instrumental in transforming the carrier into Africa’s most dominant airline group, successfully scaling its revenue and fleet size while steering the company through the volatile disruptions of the global pandemic and the aftermath of the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX tragedy.

He steps into the role currently held by Campbell Wilson, who is set to vacate the position on September 30. Gebremariam faces an uphill battle as he inherits an airline contending with increased regulatory oversight following a devastating 2025 plane crash, as well as complex external pressures like rising fuel costs and diverted flight paths caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. With the backing of the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, the new leadership will focus on restoring operational stability and guiding the company through this turbulent period of recovery.