Air India's designated CEO and Managing Director Tewolde Gebremariam has identified safety, operational reliability and profitability as the airline's main priorities as it enters the next phase of its transformation under the Tata Group. Speaking to employees at a town hall, Gebremariam said the carrier had made substantial progress since its return to the Tata Group but continued to face challenges from geopolitical tensions, airspace restrictions, high fuel prices and uncertainty in international markets.

Gebremariam, who was appointed to succeed Campbell Wilson in August, is taking charge as Air India moves beyond its initial stabilisation and integration phase. He said safety would remain the airline's foremost priority and that improving reliability would be critical to restoring consistency in day-to-day operations. The airline also intends to strengthen its disruption-management and service-recovery processes to ensure that passengers receive more dependable service.

Financial performance will be another central focus for the new leadership. Gebremariam said Air India needs to improve both revenue generation and cost management while continuing its efforts towards sustainable profitability. The airline is considering initiatives to increase revenue and strengthen cost discipline across the organisation, including programmes that could reward employees for ideas that deliver measurable savings or improve efficiency.

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The airline is also reviewing its network and fleet deployment to determine whether resources can be used more effectively. Gebremariam said Air India needs to function as a unified group and identify opportunities to streamline operations and create synergies while maintaining attention on customer needs. The review comes after the expansion of the airline's network and fleet and the integration of Vistara and other operations under the Tata Group.

Air India has undergone a broad transformation since the Tata Group took control of the carrier in 2022, including new aircraft orders, fleet and cabin upgrades, technology investments and the integration of its airline businesses. Gebremariam's appointment comes as the airline shifts towards executing these initiatives at scale. His experience at Ethiopian Airlines includes work involving safety, operational performance, international networks, hub operations and profitability. Under his leadership, Air India's immediate priorities will centre on strengthening reliability and safety, improving financial discipline, optimising its network and fleet, and working towards sustainable profitability amid a challenging global aviation environment.

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