New Delhi, September 07 (H.S.): Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has reiterated the need for the airline to focus on safety, customer confidence, operational excellence and financial sustainability as it enters the next phase of its transformation. Air India's newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tewolde Gebremariam and outgoing chief Campbell Wilson were also present at the meeting.

Official sources said on Monday that, while addressing Air India employees at an internal meeting, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran emphasised the need to prioritise safety and build a strong culture of cost discipline across the airline. During the meeting, Chandrasekaran formally introduced Gebremariam to the employees.

Chandrasekaran said restoring trust in Air India should be the airline's foremost priority. He said this would require world-class processes across the organisation, strict adherence to rules and regulations, and individual accountability. He said, “The most important thing Air India should strive to achieve is the trust of the people.”

Chandrasekaran said the airline's safety record should be among the best in the industry. He also urged employees to help build a strong culture of cost control across the organisation.

On August 5, Air India announced the appointment of Gebremariam as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director following an extensive selection process. The selection process was overseen by a dedicated board committee. Gebremariam brings nearly four decades of experience with the Ethiopian Airlines Group and served as its CEO for more than 11 years.

It may be recalled that the Tata Group acquired Air India from the Government of India in January 2022. Subsequently, Singapore Airlines acquired a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar