India

Air India Names Tewolde Gebremariam as New CEO

Is Gebremariam the leader Air India needs or is he walking into a crisis too big to fix?

Published AUG 6

Air India Names Tewolde Gebremariam as New CEO

Story

Above: Tewolde Gebremariam on April 21, 2020. Image credit: Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Air India appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as the airline's new CEO and managing director on Wednesday, succeeding Campbell Wilson, who stepped down from the role in April but continued to serve until a successor was named.
Air India
Air India
Gebremariam was most recently selected to lead Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and, according to reports, was only weeks away from being announced as PIA's new chief, awaiting security clearance, before he was offered the role at Air India.
India Today
Hindustan Times
A press release published by the carrier revealed that the board unanimously chose Gebremariam following a global search that concluded he possessed the "leadership, deep operational expertise, and strategic execution capability" Air India required for its "next phase of growth."
Air India
Before joining the Indian firm, Gebremariam served as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group. During his tenure, its revenue increased more than fourfold, and its fleet size nearly tripled, transforming the carrier into Africa's largest and most profitable airline group.
Air India
Tata
Nevertheless, Gebremariam arrives at Air India at a time of financial struggle, with the company reporting a net loss of ₹22,135 crore ($2.3 billion) in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, compounding losses from the year before, which amounted to ₹9653.1 crore.
Tata
Tata
It is also under investigation after the Ahmedabad crash in June 2025, which killed 260 people after Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff. The Indian Air Accident Investigation Bureau published a preliminary report into the incident in July, with a final report expected by October.
BBC News
Indian Air Accident Investigation Bureau

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Tewolde Gebremariam is exactly the leader Air India needs to become a truly premier global carrier. His decade-plus run at Ethiopian Airlines — growing revenue fourfold and nearly tripling the fleet — proves he can execute the scale of turnarounds needed. If the next era of Air India is to be defined by expansion and growth, it demands this kind of bold, proven operational leadership.

Tata

Air India

Narrative B

Gebremariam may have commendable experience, but he is walking into a host of problems, including a record $2.3 billion loss, a fatal crash that killed 260 people and a third of international routes already cut. It will take an extraordinary effort to overcome these hurdles and return the airline to profitability while repairing its reputation; the issue is that this may be too much to ask.