An interim committee has been set up by Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran to address challenges being faced by the aviation giant amid former CEO Campbell Wilson's imminent exit, Reuters reported, citing a source with direct knowledge.
The interim committee comprises senior executives from Air India, including former top civil aviation ministry official Pradeep Singh Kharola and Chandrasekaran himself, the report said. It aims to look for Wilson's successor and ensure the airline's continuity while confirmation of Chandrasekaran’s extension as chairman of Tata Sons is pending, as per the source.
Who is Pradeep Singh Kharola?
Kharola served as CMD of Air India from 2017 to 2019 when it was controlled by the Indian government. Tata Group took over management of the airline in 2022. He has also served as Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and was involved with the airline's privatisation. Since June, he has been appointed Executive Director to the Chairman.
Notably, Tata Sons is the holding company for the Tata Group, which owns 75% of Air India. Singapore Airlines has the remaining 25% stake in the iconic airline.
Both Air India and Tata Sons did not immediately respond to queries, as per the report.
Air India's search for new CEO continues
New Zealand-born Wilson submitted his resignation in April 2026 following four years in the role. According to the report, a second source shared that Wilson's notice period will end on 30 September this year. In an earlier report, the news agency said that Singapore Airlines executive Vinod Kannan and Air India's commercial head Nipun Aggarwal are leading the successor race.
In April, the airline, in a statement, said that Wilson will remain in the role until his successor is announced and in place. Sources had also told Hindustan Times that “he (Wilson) will continue to be in the system until the board finds his successor — to help in a smooth transition — whenever that happens, until September.”
Notably, even before the resignation, Campbell’s five-year term as Air India CEO was scheduled to end in September.
As per an Economic Times report, Aggarwal's candidature has faced opposition from a number of people, including Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata. The Tata Trusts holds 66% of Tata Sons, so an agreement on the appointment would be significant.
Air India faces financial challenges and safety concerns
Notably, this development sets the stage for a leadership transition at a time when the airline is grappling with operational disruptions.
Full-service Air India and its low-cost carrier arm Air India Express saw a combined record loss of more than $2 billion in FY25, the Reuters report added, noting that the aviation giant has been under the scanner over a series of safety lapses — such as the deadly Boeing Dreamliner crash in Gujarat in June 2025, which claimed 260 lives.
The airline has also been hit hard by Pakistan's airspace ban on Indian airlines and the United States and Israel's war on Iran in the Middle East, which has raised fuel prices and operating costs.
(With inputs from Reuters)
