Air India has appointed aviation veteran Tewolde Gebremariam as chief executive officer and managing director, ending speculation linking him with Pakistan International Airlines.
Air India announced the decision on August 5 after its board completed a global search for Campbell Wilson’s successor. The board unanimously backed Tewolde for its next phase.
“On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Tewolde to Air India,” Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said.
Tewolde called the appointment “a profound honour” and said Air India carried “an incredible legacy.” He promised operational reliability, Indian hospitality and long-term growth.
Air India has not announced his joining date. Wilson, who resigned in April, will leave on September 30.
Aviation Record Behind Appointment
Tewolde led Ethiopian Airlines from 2011 until his early retirement in 2022. He transformed it into Africa’s largest carrier and strengthened Addis Ababa as a global aviation hub.
Ethiopian Airlines said annual turnover rose from $1 billion to $4.5 billion during his tenure. Its fleet grew from 33 aircraft to 130. Pre-pandemic passenger numbers increased from three million to 12 million.
He also directed more than $700 million in infrastructure investment. The programme covered cargo facilities, maintenance hangars, aviation training, flight simulators and a major hotel.
Air India wants that turnaround experience as it advances its restructuring under Tata Group ownership. Tata regained control of the airline in January 2022.
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The group integrated Vistara and now runs Air India and Air India Express. Its fleet passed 300 aircraft, while the network expanded to more than 100 destinations.
Air India ordered 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft in 2023, then added 100 Airbus jets in 2024. That took announced orders to 570 aircraft. Another 30-plane Boeing order in January 2026 lifted total commitments to about 600.
Independent aviation analyst John Strickland said: “It takes someone with a particular set of skills and experience to navigate such a complex situation.”
Conflicting Reports About PIA
Tewolde’s Air India appointment follows several Pakistani reports connecting him with PIA’s top position after privatization.
ProPakistani first reported that PIA had shortlisted him. It later said the airline had selected him, subject to security clearances. Arab News also cited two unnamed officials who said PIA had chosen him.
However, PIA and its new owners never formally announced the appointment. ProPakistani’s latest report cited sources who said officials considered Tewolde but never approached him.
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The conflicting accounts do not establish that he rejected PIA or directly “chose” Air India over it. Air India, however, confirmed that its board conducted a formal search and appointed him unanimously.
Tewolde now inherits an airline facing heavy losses, regulatory scrutiny and an ambitious expansion programme. Air India expects him to turn years of integration and investment into safer operations, better service and sustainable profitability.
