Air India's new CEO names big plans in townhall

New Delhi: Air India's new CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, spoke to employees in a town hall meeting on Monday, emphasizing the importance of improving financial performance and introducing incentive programs for staff ideas to reduce costs. Gebremariam, who will take over the airline as the new CEO and Managing Director of the loss-making Tata Group-owned company, stated that cost discipline must become an integral part of Air India's culture, and every employee is capable of contributing to savings.

The airline aims to introduce programs that reward employees for creating measurable cost savings and operational efficiencies. Gebremariam, an Ethiopian Airlines Group veteran, will be the second foreign CEO at Air India and will focus on revenue enhancement initiatives, such as opportunities in international networks, commercial activities, and cargo business.

He stressed that the airline needs to improve both revenue and cost performance, as external factors have affected its path to break-even. As Air India works on expansion plans amid multiple external headwinds, Gebremariam emphasized that growth must be profitable and sustainable, and the airline will pursue expansion in a disciplined manner while ensuring its people, fleet, and network are ready to support it.