Campbell Wilson is rewriting the book on leadership at 30,000 feet, from navigating budget airlines in Asia to spearheading one of aviation’s most ambitious turnarounds. When the Tata Group appointed Campbell Wilson as the CEO of Air India in 2022, the goal was to revitalize a national brand. A 26-year veteran of the aviation industry, Campbell Wilson has worked with both full and low-cost carriers.
Air India has undergone a massive transformation under its leadership, including a big merger of four airlines, a $70 billion aircraft deal of 470 jets, and a stylish new look. But who is this New Zealand-born leader leading Indian aviation? Let’s take off and explore the story of Campbell Wilson, the man helping Air India soar once again.
Campbell Wilson – Biography
Name
Campbell Wilson
Born
October 1971, Christchurch, New Zealand
Nationality
New Zealander
Current Role
MD & CEO, Air India
Previous Roles
CEO, Scoot (Singapore Airlines), SVP at SIA
Education
M.Com Business Administration, University of Canterbury
Campbell Wilson was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in October 1971. Growing up in a country known more for sheep than skies, aviation wasn’t the most obvious path, but Wilson had big ambitions early on. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Commerce from the University of Canterbury, where he developed a strong foundation in business, operations, and finance.
After rising through the ranks at Singapore Airlines, Campbell Wilson took on leadership roles across Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan, managing key international operations. His global experience and deep understanding of airline strategy eventually brought him back to Singapore in 2011, where he was entrusted with a bold new mission: to launch Scoot, SIA’s low-cost, long-haul carrier.
As the founding CEO of Scoot, Wilson built the airline from the ground up, leading it from a concept to a fully operational carrier serving major Asia-Pacific routes. He led Scoot until 2016, by which time it had firmly established itself as a rising star in the budget airline space.
Following that success, Wilson was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Singapore Airlines. In this role, he oversaw everything from global sales and brand strategy to pricing, e-commerce, merchandising, and international offices. His tenure saw strong commercial performance and deeper digital transformation across SIA’s global network.
In April 2020, just as the world was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson returned to Scoot for a second term as CEO, helping the airline navigate one of the toughest crises in aviation history.
Campbell Wilson – Contribution to Air India
The merger of full-service carriers Air India and Vistara was officially completed on 12 November 2024, following the successful integration of low-cost carriers Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) on 1 October 2024.
With this consolidation, the Air India Group now operates a unified fleet of 300 aircraft, serving 55 domestic and 48 international destinations across 312 routes, with 8,300 flights per week and a workforce of over 30,000 employees.
Key Post-Merger Operations
Air India (Full-Service): Operates 5,600+ weekly flights, serving 90+ domestic and international destinations with a fleet of 208 aircraft.
Air India Express (Low-Cost): Operates 2,700 weekly flights, connecting 45+ domestic and international destinations with 90 aircraft.
Notably, the premium in-flight experience of Vistara will continue under the Air India brand. Customers can still identify Vistara aircraft by a special four-digit Air India flight number starting with “2”.
Air India is at the midpoint of its ambitious five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, with a clear goal of capturing 30% of India’s domestic market while expanding its global footprint. In just 30 months, the airline has grown its fleet by 40%, reaching nearly 300 aircraft, and has placed firm orders for 570 more jets. Since September 2022, this rapid expansion has led to nearly double the number of weekly flights, marking a significant leap in operational scale.
Under the leadership of CEO Campbell Wilson, Air India has undergone a comprehensive transformation, revamping its brand, cabins, and crew experience. Here’s a detailed look at the key initiatives:
Brand and Visual Identity Overhaul
August 2023: Air India unveiled its new logo and livery, replacing the traditional Maharajah mascot with a chakra-inspired “Vista” symbol featuring deep red, aubergine, and gold tones
Though redesigned, the beloved Maharajah mascot remains part of the brand.
Cabin Upgrades: Comfort & Connectivity
A US$400 million interior retrofit of 43 wide-body aircraft (Boeing 777s/787s) was pledged by Tata, with upgrades including business and premium cabins, in-flight Wi-Fi, and enhanced in-flight entertainment.
Designer Cabin Crew Uniforms
Starting late 2023 and culminating in January 2025, Manish Malhotra’s new uniform line was rolled out for cabin crew, as well as cockpit, ground, and security staff.
Campbell Wilson – Challenges Faced
While Campbell Wilson brings a proven track record and bold vision, the Air India cockpit is far from turbulence-free. Taking charge of the national carrier meant inheriting a long list of legacy issues and the weight of public expectations.
Tackling Debt and Streamlining Operations: One of Wilson’s most immediate challenges is addressing Air India’s massive net debt, reportedly close to INR 61,000 crore at the time of Tata’s takeover. A large part of this debt comes from aircraft leases, operational inefficiencies, and years of underinvestment in tech and service.
Beyond the books, there’s the complex task of modernising the airline’s aging fleet, rationalising unprofitable routes, and standardising service quality across domestic and international segments.
The Multi-Airline Puzzle: Perhaps the biggest challenge Wilson is expected to solve is what Tata Sons has called the “complex puzzle” of operating multiple airlines under one roof.
Merging AirAsia India with Air India Express
Seamlessly integrating Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, into Air India’s full-service arm.
Creating a two-brand strategy: Air India (full-service) and Air India Express (low-cost) without losing customer trust or brand value
Campbell Wilson – Air India’s Green Commitment
Air India is deeply committed to reducing its environmental footprint while continuing to connect people and places worldwide. On the occasion of World Environment Day, CEO & MD Campbell Wilson reaffirmed the airline’s dedication to sustainability, highlighting how it is being integrated into every aspect of the business.
From inducting 570 new-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft to optimizing flight routes for lower emissions, Air India is actively modernizing operations with a green focus. The airline is also exploring the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and promoting a circular economy by recycling and reusing resources wherever possible.
In his message, Campbell emphasized that addressing climate change requires a collective effort. He encouraged all Air India employees to contribute meaningfully to the airline’s journey towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to build a cleaner, greener future together.
Campbell Wilson is a New Zealand-born aviation executive appointed as the MD & CEO of Air India in 2022 by the Tata Group.
What is Campbell Wilson’s educational background?
Campbell Wilson holds a Master of Commerce (M.Com) in Business Administration with First-Class Honours from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
What was Campbell Wilson’s role before joining Air India?
Before Air India, Campbell Wilson was the CEO of Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, and also served as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at SIA.
On 22 June, Air India declared that it will temporarily cease operations on three routes and cut back on 118 weekly flights using narrow-body aircraft across 19 routes.
The move comes shortly after the airline, which is owned by the Tata Group, announced that it will temporarily reduce the number of international flights using wide-body aircraft by 15%.
The airline said in an official announcement that it was temporarily reducing its overall narrow-body network by less than 5%. According to the announcement, Air India’s services would be temporarily suspended on three flights, and their frequency will be reduced on 19 routes as a result of this voluntary decision. The modifications will take effect at least until July 15, 2025.
Restructured Flight Operations
Until at least mid-July, seven weekly flights on the Bengaluru-Singapore, Pune-Singapore, and Mumbai-Bagdogra (AI551/552) routes will not operate. As part of the operational changes, flight frequencies on a number of important domestic routes, like Delhi-Bengaluru and Delhi-Mumbai, would also be decreased.
The interim cuts, according to Air India, are meant to “minimise last-minute inconvenience to passengers” and strengthen network-wide operational stability.
Citing ongoing safety inspections and operational difficulties following last week’s catastrophic disaster involving one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Air India stated on June 18 that it would cut foreign operations on its wide-body aircraft by 15% over the next few weeks.
The crash of flight AI171, which claimed 241 lives and was the deadliest aviation accident in ten years, is still being investigated by authorities.
Enhanced Safety Check on Boeing 777 Fleet
In a statement released on June 18, AI stated that the 15% reduction essentially increases the number of reserve planes available to handle unforeseen interruptions and will help it guarantee operational stability, improve efficiency, and limit passenger discomfort.
The airline has said that it will conduct more thorough safety inspections on its fleet of Boeing 777s. Even if the capacity reduction occurs during the busiest travel season, the airline will at least be able to notify customers in advance that their flights would be cancelled and use AI to assist them in finding other arrangements.
According to AI’s statement, the investigative authorities are still working to determine what caused the (AI 171) accident. The DGCA had ordered AI’s fleet of B787-8/9 aircraft to undergo “enhanced safety inspections”.
Inspections on 26 of the 33 B787s have already been finished and are approved for service; the remaining B787s will undergo inspection in the next several days. The fact that 26 aircraft have received clearance demonstrates our commitment to safety protocols.
With immediate effect, Air India would cut its international wide-body flight operations by 15% “at least” till the middle of July. The airline uses its wide-body aircraft to run over 70 foreign flights every day.
Due to a number of variables, such as the closure of numerous nations’ airspace, longer travel times to and from the West, and extra scrutiny of Boeing 787s following the AI 171 incident on 12 June, there are fewer twin aisles available.
Between June 2 and June 17, AI operated 462 flights on its wide-body fleet of Boeing 787s, B777s, and Airbus A350s while cancelling 83 flights during that time. This indicates that, to the inconvenience of passengers, 15.2% of the 545 scheduled flights were cancelled.
AI has thereby reduced wide-body flights by 15% by using that ratio and matching schedules to actual flying capacity. Even though the introduction of new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus has been much slower than expected, AI has overextended itself in the last two years in terms of crew and equipment by drastically increasing flights.
Therefore, if an aircraft was grounded or delayed, it affected the flight it was scheduled to conduct next. Since the DGCA ordered additional checks of B787 Dreamliners last Thursday, this has gotten worse.
Enhanced Safety Check on Boeing 777 Fleet
In a statement released on June 18, AI stated that the 15% reduction essentially increases the number of reserve planes available to handle unforeseen interruptions and will help it guarantee operational stability, improve efficiency, and limit passenger discomfort.
The airline has said that it will conduct more thorough safety inspections on its fleet of Boeing 777s. Even if the capacity reduction occurs during the busiest travel season, the airline will at least be able to notify customers in advance that their flights would be cancelled and use AI to assist them in finding other arrangements.
According to AI’s statement, the investigative authorities are still working to determine what caused the (AI 171) accident. The DGCA had ordered AI’s fleet of B787-8/9 aircraft to undergo “enhanced safety inspections”.
Inspections on 26 of the 33 B787s have already been finished and are approved for service; the remaining B787s will undergo inspection in the next several days. The fact that 26 aircraft have received clearance demonstrates our commitment to safety protocols.
Ongoing Middle East Situation Also Adding Pain to the Agony
The statement also stated that AI’s top priority is still ensuring the safety of its passengers, crew, and aircraft, and it will continue to work with authorities to do so.
AI added that there have been some disruptions in its international operations over the last six days, resulting in 83 cancellations. This is because of the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfews (at airports abroad), the continuous enhanced safety inspections, and the necessary caution being taken by the engineering staff and Air India pilots.
AI promises to let passengers know ahead of time and try its best to get them a seat on another aircraft. Additionally, passengers will have the option of receiving a complete refund or rescheduling their trip at no additional cost.
According to CEO Campbell Wilson, Air India aims to shift operations to alternative Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in order to lessen its need for Turkish Technic for the maintenance of its wide-body aircraft. Given current geopolitical events surrounding Turkiye, the action was taken.
Turkiye denounced India’s anti-terror efforts and expressed solidarity for Pakistan in May. On May 15, the Turkish business Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd had its security clearance revoked by India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which cited “national security” concerns.
IndiGo was then given a last three-month extension by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on May 30 to continue operating two damp-leased Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines. The lease must be terminated before August 31 in order for the extension to remain in effect.
In response to enquiries about Air India’s continued use of Turkish technology for wide-body aircraft maintenance, Wilson emphasised the airline’s responsiveness to public opinion and geopolitical changes while pointing out the global nature of aviation supply chains.
“We are obviously sensitive to the national sentiment and perhaps the national wishes, but it does take a while to adjust when the circumstances change around us,” Wilson said. “So, regardless of which country we are talking about, we would clearly take cognisance of what people like us to do and expect us to do,” Wilson stated in an interview to media news agency.
Air India Relying Heavily on Turkish Technic
Currently, Turkish Technic does extensive maintenance on a subset of Air India’s Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft.
According to Wilson, until local capacity is established, Air India will temporarily reroute aircraft in need of MRO services to facilities in the US, the Middle East, South East Asia, and, on a limited basis, still to Turkish Technic.
He went on to say that in light of this latest development, Air India will try to reevaluate the locations of its planes, send less to Turkiye, and send them elsewhere. “But that does take some time because aircraft have to be maintained… We are cognisant of recent developments, and we will look to adjust our plans,” he stated.
Air India Witnessing Substantial Growth
Wilson claims that after its privatisation, Air India has seen significant expansion in its passenger and freight operations.
While the revenue from passengers has doubled over this period, the revenue from the cargo segment has more than tripled.
He said that Air India is a lot more credible a participant in the cargo industry because of its vast potential, non-stop service into major areas across the world, increased focus on cargo, improved systems, and more consistent product delivery. There’s a big upside potential.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson announced on January 1 that the airline, which ordered 100 additional planes at the tail end of 2024, will undergo massive expansions and boost its worldwide coverage in 2025. In his New Year’s greetings, Wilson announced that the Air India Group fleet has grown to 300 aircraft thanks to mergers and new aircraft deliveries. He also promised that the airline’s global coverage will continue to expand in the years to come.
In late 2024, the four Tata airlines merged into one, becoming Air India, and another, Air India Express, which offered low-cost flights. Wilson announced that the former Vistara planes are currently flying internal routes connecting major cities as well as important international trips to places like Frankfurt and Singapore. The fleet size of the Air India Group has increased to 300 aircraft as a result of these mergers and new aircraft deliveries. The new addition of 100 aircraft to Air India’s order book, enhancing the earlier promise for 470 announced in 2023, will no doubt contribute to Air India’s further expansion in global coverage in the years to come, as per Wilson.
Further Expansion Plans
From Delhi to London and New York, over a hundred brand-new planes are taking to the skies, including the first Airbus A350 in India. These are a portion of the one-third of Air India’s twin-aisle aircraft that will be upgraded in a similar fashion over the course of the next two years. The company’s single-aisle fleet, which flies to local and short-haul foreign destinations, is undergoing an interior renovation that will be finished by mid-2025, according to Wilson.
Adding More Training Centres
In addition to the recently opened training centre in Gurugram, which is 800,000 square feet, the largest in South Asia, Wilson mentioned a brand-new 12-bay maintenance facility and training school in Bengaluru and a new flight school in Amravati, both of which would support the new aircraft. Wilson went on to say that other major cities will quickly follow Bengaluru’s new premium class lounge in 2025, with another opening in Delhi the following year, and so on. According to him, every part of Air India‘s operations is being upgraded as part of the company’s transformation. This includes systems, processes, infrastructure, equipment, and people.
Marking Three Years of Service, Air India-Tata Group
According to Wilson, Air India will celebrate its third anniversary of returning to the Tata Group in January 2025, which is a major milestone in the company’s history. Meanwhile, Air India is in the midst of its Vihaan.AI transformation initiative, a five-year endeavour that will hopefully see the company become a top-tier international airline with a uniquely Indian flavour.
The aviation industry in India is the fastest-growing sector in the world as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The manufacturing hub of Indian aviation is located in Bangalore and the UDAN scheme of the government drives the growing civil aviation and aviation infrastructure in the country.
Indian civil aviation industry is broadly classified into scheduled air transport which includes domestic and international airlines, non-scheduled air transport which includes charter operators and air taxi operators and air cargo transport which includes air transportation of cargo and mail. As was the case with all commercial activity, the Indian civil aviation industry was severely affected due to the covid-19 pandemic. However, not only has the industry recovered but witnessed a robust growth of 104.24% in one year. This is evident from the figures of the air traffic movement which stood at 613,566 in the first quarter of FY 2022-2023 as opposed to 300,405 in the first quarter of FY 2021-2022.
Currently ranked at number 7 in the global civil aviation market, Indian civil aviation is expected to become the third largest within the next ten years. It is already the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world and is expected to become the third-largest air passenger market by 2024, overtaking the United Kingdom.
The civil aviation industry of India can be traced back to 17th February 1911 when the first commercial flight took to the skies from Allahabad to Naini – a short distance of only 6 miles covered in approximately 15 minutes. This was the world’s first official airmail service as the Humber biplane carried 6500 pieces of mail piloted by Henri Pequet. The first commercial airline was Handley Page Indo-Burmese Transport flown on 15th October 1932 by J.R.D. Tata from Karachi to Juhu Airport. This airline later became Air India.
By 1953, there were eight domestic airlines that were operating independently within the country. They were Deccan Airways, Airways India, Bharat Airways, Himalayan Aviation, Kalinga Airlines, Indian National Airways, Air India, and Air Services of India. In March of that year, the Indian Parliament passed the Air Corporations Act resulting in the nationalization of the merger of all eight airlines into two government-owned entities – Indian Airlines focusing on domestic routes, and Air India International focusing on international services.
History of Aviation in India
In 1972, The International Airports Authority of India (IAAI) was established followed by the National Airports Authority in 1986 and The Bureau of Civil Aviation in 1987. The Indian government de-regularized the civil aviation sector in 1991 leading to the introduction of the first national-level private airline – East-West Airlines, followed by Jet Airways which began operations in April 1992. By 1994 the Air Corporation Act was repealed allowing private airlines to operate scheduled services. This led several players like Air Sahara, Modiluft, Damania Airways, and NEPC Airlines to commence operations within the Indian skies.
Growth of Civil Aviation Industry & Its Challenges
Between 2004 and 2005 many low-cost airline carriers entered the Indian market. Prominent operators among them were Air Deccan, Indigo, Air Sahara, Kingfisher Airlines, SpiceJet, GoAir, and Paramount Airways. However, soon the industry was riddled with problems as it struggled with rising fuel and operations costs and economic slowdown. There was a flurry of mergers, acquisitions, and discontinuation of services within the market players. Paramount Airways closed operations in 2010 while Air Sahara was bought by Jet Airways and Air Deccan was acquired by Kingfisher Airlines in 2007. Kingfisher Airlines closed operations in 2012. A joint venture between Air Asia and Tata Sons led to the launch of AirAsia India in 2014 – another low-cost carrier. Another carrier, Vistara was also launched due to a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. By 2013 and 2014 only two low-cost carriers, GoAir and Indigo were generating profits through their operations.
Current Leaders In The Civil Aviation Market
With the number of airline operators within the Indian civil aviation sector, Indigo and Jet Airways was operating neck to neck in the year 2018. However, the latter was riddled with financial difficulties that led to operations being suspended by April 2019. This left the field open for Indigo with little or no competition from other players. By the year 2022, Indigo was dominating the Indian airline space with a market share of almost 55%.
What has resulted in Indigo’s market domination is its no-frills approach and low-cost domestic flying. During the fiscal year 2022, Indigo carried more than 46.6 million passengers according to the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation. The airline has registered the least number of customer complaints and has ranked at number 4 among the country’s most punctual airlines registering almost 84% of on-time arrivals. Indigo rates high on domestic popularity which is indicative of soaring growth in the future.
Conclusion
The Indian Civil Aviation Industry has received strong backing from the government and is increasingly emerging as a fast-growing sector. The sector has established itself as a credible alternative to road or rail journeys. The growth trajectory of the industry currently indicates that by the year 2034, it may well become one of the largest aviation markets in the world.
FAQs
Who are the major players in the Indian Civil Aviation Industry?
The major players in the Indian Civil Aviation Industry include:
IndiGo
SpiceJet
Air India
Vistara
GoAir
AirAsia India
Air India Express
What is the contribution of the Indian Civil Aviation Industry to the country’s GDP?
According to a report by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Indian Civil Aviation Industry contributed about 0.5% to the country’s GDP in the financial year 2019-20. The industry provides direct and indirect employment to millions of people and has a significant impact on the economy.
What are the key challenges faced by the Indian Civil Aviation Industry?
The Indian Civil Aviation Industry faces several challenges, some of the key ones are:
High operating costs: The industry is faced with high operating costs, which include fuel prices, airport charges, and taxes.
Infrastructure constraints
Competition: The industry is highly competitive, with several players vying for market share. This has resulted in price wars and cost-cutting measures that impact the quality of services offered.
Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved byAir India.
Air India is the country’s best flying ambassador. Thanks to the 18,000 Air Indians who have continued the legacy of rising high, the drive to succeed and the passion that marked Air-inaugural India’s flight on October 15, 1932, is still indisputably present today.
In addition to domestic flights, Air India, covers southern and eastern Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the United States, Australia, and Canada. It was formed in 1932 (as Tata Airlines) and headquartered in Mumbai.
After the transaction was finalised by Air India Limited’s previous owner, the Government of India, it is now held by Talace Private Limited, a Special-Purpose Vehicle of Tata Sons.
Know more about Air India, its company history, business model, funding and investors, etc.
Bharat Ratna J.R.D. Tata founded an airline in 1932, realising his ambition and beginning the path that would become Air India. His love of flying, which led him to become the first Indian to acquire a commercial pilot’s licence, ignited the beginnings of Air India with the introduction of postal service from then-Bombay to Karachi via Ahmedabad. Since becoming nationalised in 1953, Air India has grown to become a significant domestic and international brand.
After joining Star Alliance, the largest global airline alliance, in July 2014, Air India’s international connectivity, which includes cities in Europe, The United States, The United Kingdom, Africa, the Gulf, Asia, and Australia, was improved. The airline flies to every remote county in our nation.
It has consistently stood by the country and its citizens in times of need and has been crucial in evacuation operations throughout crises like the Gulf War, the Coronavirus pandemic, and the most recent situation in Ukraine.
After re-joining the Tata Group on January 27, 2022, Air India is ready for takeoff, reinventing its objectives and strategy with a focus on overall excellence and customer-centric procedures.
Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons, said on the occasion, “The Tata group welcomes Air India’s new customers and is thrilled to work together to make Air India the airline of choice in terms of passenger comfort and service.”
102 local and foreign destinations are served by the fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft operated by Air India. Along with many key cities around India, the airline has its hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. With a market share of 18.6%, Air India is the biggest airline operating in India. Air India offers service to more than 60 overseas locations on four continents. On July 11, 2014, the airline joined Star Alliance as its 27th member.
Air India – Industry
Almost all facets of air travel and the operations that support it are included in the aviation business. This implies that it covers the whole airline sector as well as the manufacture of aircraft, research organisations, military aviation, and much more. The number of operational aircraft in the global aviation fleet at the start of 2022 was equal to that of 2017. However, at 25,500, it was about double the epidemic low mark set in the middle of 2020.
The business is now again set up for a decade of development after the Covid-19 outbreak lasted for two years. Domestic travel demand is anticipated to approach its pre-pandemic high in early 2023 on a worldwide scale. The projection then calls for continued growth through the rest of the decade at rates that even outpace improvements in GDP.
The ten years through 2032 are likely to be packed with problems that will put aviation’s resilience and profitability to the test, unlike the ten years between 2010 and 2019 when the sector had stable yearly gains in demand. The key issue for aviation going ahead is not its capacity for growth, but rather it’s capacity for profitable growth.
Air India – Founder
Air India is founded by Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata on 29 July 1946.
J.R.D Tata
J.R.D Tata – Founder of Air India
Indian aviator, manufacturer, businessman, and head of the Tata Group, JRD Tata was a non-resident Indian, son of renowned industrialist Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his spouse Suzanne Brière. His mother was the first Indian lady to drive a vehicle, and he was the country’s first-ever certified pilot in 1929. He is most known for founding various businesses that are part of the Tata Group, including Voltas, Air India, Titan Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, and Tata Motors. He won two of India’s highest civilian honours—the Padma Vibhushan and the Bharat Ratna—in 1955 and 1992, as well as the French Legion of Honor in 1983.
Air India – Startup Story
In 1932, Air India launched Tata Airlines under the name of its founder, J. R. D. Tata. Between the Indian cities of Ahmadabad, Bombay, Bellary, and Madras and Karachi, Pakistan, the line transported mail and people. Within a short period, Tata Airlines’ itineraries featured stops in Trivandrum, Delhi, Colombo, Lahore, and other nearby Indian towns.
After World War II was over, the airline changed its name to Air-India Limited and went public. With the government owning a 49 per cent stake in the business, the airline expanded its reach outside of India in just two years, operating frequent flights to Cairo, Geneva, and London. The name of the company was once again changed to Air-India International Limited to reflect its expanded range of services.
For a variety of factors, India fared better in the airline business than the majority of other emerging nations. Air India mostly used native-born pilots, unlike other airlines which had to rely on foreign pilots to fly their aircraft. Similar to how many competent Indians were available to maintain India’s fleet and educate and manage its workforce, many other nations had to look outside of their borders for this type of knowledge. Along with its sibling carriers, Air-India profited from these benefits.
Early in the 1950s, Air India saw competition for its routes for the first time. Due to the affordable, war-surplus DC-3s that were becoming available, several new airlines were starting to emerge. There were no less than 21 established airlines, 11 of which had been granted permission to operate in Indian airspace.
Expanding its aviation business even further was one of Air India’s main objectives for the nineties. At the start of the decade, Air-India accounted for around 30% of the country’s air cargo business, with more than three dozen foreign airlines transporting the remaining 70%. To expand its ability to transport exports, the airline intended to hire more jet freighters. The International Airports Authority of India enhanced the ground handling and infrastructure at the entrances it manages, increasing its appeal to airlines and freight forwarders. With these modifications in place, cargo revenue for the 1990 fiscal year was the US $195 million, or 21% of Air India’s revenue.
Air India – Name, Logo, and Tagline
When J. R. D. Tata of Tata Sons, an Indian aviator and business mogul, launched Air India, it was originally known as Tata Air Services before changing its name to Tata Airlines. The airline used a six-seat Miles Merlin to launch its inaugural domestic route from Bombay to Trivandrum. It was given a new name in 1938, first as Tata Air Services and then as Tata Airlines.
Although its founder J. R. D. Tata would continue in that role as Chairman until 1977, the Government of India approved the Air Corporations Act in 1953 and bought a controlling share in the airline from Tata Sons.
As part of a reorganisation, the business was given the new name Air India International Limited and the domestic services were given to Indian Airlines.
The tagline of Air India says, “Air India… Truly Indian”
The airline’s previous logo included an orange “Konark Chakra” inside of a crimson flying swan. The soaring swan is a modified version of the iconic Air India emblem, “The Centaur,” while the “Konark Chakra” is evocative of the Indian logo.
Air India – Mission, and Vision
Air India’s mission statement says, “to deliver the highest quality of service around the world and be the epitome of Indian hospitality and to be India’s flag carrier and provide seamless travel within India and the world.”
Air India’s vision is, “to become India’s most efficient and preferred LCC on regional and international routes; constantly exceeding guest’ expectations in terms of quality, affordability, convenience and comfort.”
Air India – Products
Air India is one of India’s largest airlines, offering both international and local flights. Transport for people and goods was originally Air India’s two main services. But in 2012, the freight transport was shut down. It exclusively uses passenger transportation for operation. For the same, it makes use of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
Some of its key products include premium lounges and in-flight entertainment. It also rents a number of its fleets to cut costs while maintaining quality. Air India’s extensive network of routes allows it to provide flights to the world’s most significant cities and commercial hubs. To encourage repeat business from its customers, it offers a high degree of safety.
According to the much research conducted and information obtained, Air India has solidified its position as India’s largest and most productive air carrier on all fronts. Millions of travellers regularly use their service, which is current and useful.
They aggressively position themselves in the market utilising a range of marketing strategies, such as social media campaigns and advertising, to tell customers about upcoming packages and other things. Customers consider their affordable costs to be a competitive advantage and a selling point. Overall, they have reached new heights while maintaining their innovativeness thanks to their marketing and sales strategies.
Some of the elements that determine the pricing include the path used by air traffic, the distance travelled, and the number of stops made along the trip. Given how fiercely competitive the airline industry is, competitive pricing makes sense. Within a flight, there are simultaneously two different pricing ranges:
Economy class
Business-class
Middle-class families may easily afford flight tickets on Air India. Business-class passengers are the main target of premium pricing since they are more likely to pay for and use premium services.
Air India – Marketing Campaigns
Through various media, including print, radio, television, and internet platforms, marketing efforts spread the word about items. It connects with the client by conveying a relevant message in addition to promoting the goods. The greatest and safest travel experience is promised by Air India campaigns.
A dig at Indigo – After a video showed one of their personnel fighting a passenger, Air India posted two advertisements on Twitter in a covert thread towards IndiGo Airlines. Air India poked fun at IndiGo after the assault incident by promising “unbeatable service” and using the letter “beat” in blue, IndiGo’s signature colour. The second one has the slogan, “We raise our hands ONLY to offer namaste,” and features Air India’s mascot, “Maharaja,” in his signature pose. On Twitter, people criticised IndiGo over the event and called for a boycott of the airline.
Mascot – The Air India Maharaja, arguably the country’s most known mascot, is typically seen standing with his hands in a polite namaste or bowing with his palm placed over his heart to greet visitors. But the mascot has since undergone several additional changes. Let’s examine a few of them.
War Ads – Air India and IndiGo are in war advertising. To entice customers, Air India is boosting up its advertising effort. Right behind IndiGo’s check-in desks, Air India posted an advertisement on a wall panel that said, “Next time fly with Air India and experience the difference.” Although no competitors are mentioned, the strategic positioning speaks for itself. Even IndiGo made no concessions. It responded to Air India with a commercial.
However, the national carrier has never engaged in such aggressive marketing. With loud advertising and promotional discounts, Air India is attempting to get consumer attention.
Air India – Acquisitions
Acquiree Name
About Acquiree
Date
Amount
AirAsia India
AirAsia India provides scheduled air passenger transportation, air cargo transportation, and charter flight services.
The COVID-19 outbreak and rising fuel prices, according to claims in the media, are expected to lead India’s airlines to suffer their largest-ever loss of almost 20,000 crore rupees this fiscal year. Since its merger with Indian Airlines in 2007–2008, the airline has never turned a profit. In actuality, it disclosed a 7,017 crore rupee loss for FY21. The Tatas want to increase on-time performance and in-flight amenities now that they are back in the Air India cockpit. They must also encourage a corporate culture among the airline’s staff. Problems like outdated aircraft and subpar cabin goods must also be addressed.
The fleet’s update and maintenance come next. Air India has 141 aircraft in its fleet, a mix of narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing models, but has committed to giving Tatas just 118 of them in flyable condition. The 787 fleet of Air India’s airline is likewise severely short on components and engines. Tata group discovered that at any one moment, at least five 787s were sitting idle owing to a lack of engines. On the Boeing 777 fleet, which serves as the backbone of Air India’s successful US operations, at least two aircraft have been determined to be unfit for flight, and the others require extensive refurbishment.
How well the Tata Group will organise its aviation operations is an equally significant task.
Air India – Future Plans
“In terms of fleet, we know we have work to do,” Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata Group, told. “We will address it with utmost urgency. We’ll upgrade our fleet, we’ll bring modernity in our fleet, we’ll bring a new fleet.”
In the upcoming months, Mr Chandrasekaran informed employees that Air India will swiftly boost the number of its narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The average fleet age of Air India is more than ten years.
As per the company’s site, its fleet presently consists of 153 aircraft. This comprises 49 wide-body aircraft produced by Boeing and Airbus, including planes from the most popular 320 and 737 families. This is a challenging combination since each kind of aircraft demands a different set of pilot and crew skill sets.
Even though reductions are typical in such huge agreements, a sale for 50 brand-new 787-9 planes may be worth $14.6 billion at sticker pricing. The oldest models of the fuel-efficient workhorse are flown by Air India, one of the Boeing Dreamliner’s earliest purchasers worldwide, albeit some of them are still grounded owing to a lack of components.
FAQs
When was Air India founded?
Air India was founded in 1932 (as Tata Airlines) and headquartered in Mumbai.
Who is the founder of Air India?
Air India was founded by Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata in 1946 in New Delhi.
Is Air India and AirAsia India same?
Air India acquired AirAsia India on Jun 14, 2022.
Who are the top competitors of Air India?
Top competitors in the competitive list of Air India are:-
Indigo
Jet Airways
Go Air
Air Asia
Etihad
Oman Air
Thai Airways
Singapore Airlines
Emirates
Jet Airways
Spicejet
Who is the owner of Air India?
Air India is owned by Tata Group.
Who is the CEO of Air India?
Campbell Wilson is the CEO of Air India since 12 May 2022.
Everyone affinities to travel in the airline once in their lifetime and two-thirds of people in India have experienced their dreams. We all know, India is renowned for the Civil and Military aviation industry according to the International Air Transport Association.
Starting its Voyage on 18th February 1911 by covering 9.7 kilometers from Jumna River to Nainin and ultimately becoming the burgeon aviation market in the world. Epiphany, India Aviation industry became the blue ribbon and prognosticate to rank third largest aviation market in the world by 2024.
In the remote times, those people who are rich could afford the airline ticket, besides there is not much development made from the side of Indian Aviation industry.
As time ticks away, we are here eventually becoming the fastest-growing aviation market and owning 128 operational airports as of now.
The history of the Indian Aviation industry incipient back in 1911, where the plane was set as a tool to carry out mail across the Yamuna river to Naina. When it comes, domination of aviation- IndiGo stands top of the list, along with Spicejet, Vistara, AirAsia India and Air India.
Furthermore, these six aviation networks connect nearly 80 cities across India and play a vital part in the development of the Indian Aviation Industry. On the other hand, Indian Military Aviation would never let us down in bestowing a major role.
The three crucial constituents of military aviation in India are the IAF, Wings of the Army and the Navy where the Indian Air Force is the world’s 4th largest air force. As well as, it is stated that the military aviation industry is plotting aerospace research to study the aviation model related hardware and software.
Day by day, the number of travellers in India board gradually accelerated, which is reported as the industry quadrupled in size and expected passengers to be tripled around 560 million by 2037.
Notably, the Indian aviation industry is the third-largest aviation industry in the world and stands 5th largest market regarding aircraft passengers in both domestic and international.
Indian Aviation industry represents oligopoly characteristics and also sees a great impact in 2010- 2019 where a CAGR of 13.4% augment in the domestic passenger traffic, whereas the international grew at a CAGR of 9.3%.
As is the case, the ongoing pandemic lucidly tumours the Indian aviation industry which incurred 2.9 billion in 2020 and 4.1 billion in the current fiscal year 2021-22, where the industry faced a decline in India’s passenger traffic.
Government Initiatives & Developments in the Indian Aviation industry
A Scheme for India’s unserved and under-served airports
According to the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, a scheme has been framed in order to enlighten the connectivity to India’s unserved and under-served airports. Additionally, the scheme also focuses on the price of a one-hour journey to be estimated at around 2500 INR.
Indian Aviation industry may look into Investment upto USD 5 billion
In the next four years, the Indian Aviation industry may look into USD 5 billion worth of investment and anticipate nearly 25 Billion foreign investment to enter the airport sector by 2027.
The report by the government of India permitted 100% FDI on the Indian Aviation industry in order to consolidate the connectivity overseas. We could witness, UK group invest 950 Crore in Turbo Aviation New airline Trustar.
Indian aviation industry set to build water aerodromes
In 2021, the Indian aviation industry is set to build two water aerodromes in Assam and Andaman & Nicobar island to entice tourism as well as GDP. Besides, the government is planning to launch 14 more water aerodromes across India.
Indira Gandhi International Airport
The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is set to dilate in order to augment passengers, which subsumes new instalments such as Terminal point, additional runway and other advanced facilities.
On the Government side, they are working diligently to maintain the sustainability of the Indian Aviation industry by providing financial services to many airports across the country under the UDAN scheme for advancement and development.
Zurich Airport International to corroborate in development of Jewar Airport
Zurich Airport International is corroborated to design or operate Noida International Airport for the next 40 years on the development of Jewar Airport.
Runways at seven airports across the country
Prior to March 2022, the Airports Authority of India concurred to establish runways at seven airports across the country.
Krishi Udaan scheme
Krishi Udaan scheme is introduced under Union Budget 2021-22, to reduce air pollution by letting 50% for agri-perishable and ameliorate air cargo transportation in North-east states of India.
In 2015, 22 airlines were operating in India. The Indian aviation industry has grown so much since then and the top players in the Indian Aviation Industry as of 2020 are:
Interglobe Aviation (IndiGo)
IndiGo is an Indian airline based in Gurgaon, Haryana that offers low-cost travel. The company was founded in 2006 by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal. The airline is the largest in terms of passengers carried and fleet size with having a domestic market share of 59.24% as of August 2020.
SpiceJet
SpiceJet is another low-cost airline based in Gurgaon, Haryana. The company is the second-largest airline in India by the number of passengers carried and it holds a market share of 13.6% as of March 2019.
The company was established as an air taxi provider and was acquired by Ajay Singh and renamed SpiceJet in 2004 and took off its first flight in May 2005.
Jet Airways
Jet Airways is a Mumbai based Indian International airline founded by Naresh Goyal that started as an air taxi operator in 1993 and became a full-fledged airline in 1995 and started its International flights in 2005.
It was one of the largest Indian airlines with a market share of 21.2% in February 2016. But due to competition and price war, the company underwent a downfall leaving it Bankrupt and forcing the company to cease its operations in April 2019. The company is due to come back at the end of 2021.
Air India
Air India is previously known as Tata Airlines and was founded by J. R. D. Tata in 1932. After 1945, the airline was made into a public limited company and was named Air India.
Air India is headquartered in New Delhi and is owned by the Government-owned Enterprise, Air India Limited. It is the Largest International carrier out of India and holds a market share of 18.6%.
Condition of Indian Aviation Industry In the COVID Pandemic
Indian Aviation Industry consists of both military aviation like Indian Air Force(IAF) and civil airlines like IndiGo. While Government controlled Airlines like Air India, Alliance Air and IAF have been a saviour by carrying medical cargo during these COVID times, the civil airlines have seen a tremendous loss that is estimated to be INR 210 billion in FY 2020-21.
To compensate for the loss, the Centre allowed for a hike in fares of airlines by 30% which only worsened the situation. During April-October 2020, domestic flights had been declining over 70% while International flights have declined at 77%. IndiGo and SpiceJet reported having lost INR 31 crore per day during the first half of 2020.
Conclusion
The COVID pandemic has not only made us cancel our planned trips with friends and family but also has many industries on the brink of a complete shutdown and has made the economies of top countries crumble.
The Indian Aviation Industry was one of the main industries that took a downfall due to the COVID situation around the globe with many countries still not lifting their ban on International travel. And this loss would tremendously affect the GDP of the country as the aviation industry contributes $72 billion to the GDP of India.
It is predicted that the Indian Aviation Industry will bounce back to its pre-pandemic level by 2022 or 2023.
FAQ
What is the Indian Aviation Industry?
Aviation Industry is the business sector in which all types of aircraft are manufactured and operated. According to International Air transportation Association(IATA), Indian Aviation Industry is the fastest-growing aviation industry in the world and is set to be the third-largest aviation market in the world by 2024.
What is the revenue of the Indian Aviation Industry?
The aviation industry in India has seen a loss for the FY2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated net loss by ICRA for the fiscal year 2020-2021 was INR 210 billion.
How many branches does the Indian Aviation Industry hold?
The Indian aviation industry is classified into two branches: Civil aviation and Military aviation. India’s aviation manufacturing hub is situated in Bangalore and holds a 65% share of this economic sector.
There has been a lot of recent incidents related to data breaches from different companies which include the top companies in and around the country. The most recent data breach was reported by the well-known airline of India, Air India. Let’s look at the information about the data breach faced by the airline.
Air India has conveyed that the data of millions of passengers have been compromised due to a cyber attack and it involves the personal data of the passengers registered between 26 August 2011 and 20 February 2021.
The airline has announced that the data breach had taken place due to a breach from the SITA passenger service system and the data breach involved the information of around 45 lakh passengers.
What is SITA?
SITA is a technology based company which is located in Switzerland. The company specializes in information technology and air transport communications. The country that was started with a 11-member airline now has a customer base of 2,500 customers in more than 200 countries across the globe.
Some of the services offered by the company include reservation systems, passenger processing, etc. In the year 2017 Air India had entered into a deal with SITA to enable the airlines to join Star Alliance by updating its IT infrastructure.
In the month of March, Air India had communicated that SITA had been under a cyberattack in the last week of February which led to the leakage of personal information of its passengers.
The company in a statement had mentioned that the data of around 45 lakh passengers have been compromised due to the cyber attack from across the world. The personal data that were registered in between 26 August 2011 and 20 February 2011 have been compromised.
The company has conveyed that the data that were breached during the cyber attack included the name, date of birth, contact details, passport information, ticket information, frequent flyer data and even the credit card information.
Steps taken by Air India after the Data Breach
The airlines have conveyed that it would launch an investigation into the incident. Other than this they have conveyed that, they have taken steps to secure the compromised servers, engaging certain external specialists of data security incidents, resetting passwords of its frequent flyer programme and contacting the credit card customers.
This data breach would affect you as an individual only if you have used to airline services in between the mentioned dates. The important point is that the credit card information has also been compromised and it can be a threat to your credit card.
However, Air India has assured its passengers that they were no evidence of any misuse of the compromised data, the airline has asked everyone to change the passwords of their confidential data which includes your credit card password and frequent flyer programme.
FAQ
What data got leaked in the Air India data breach?
The personal data of around 45 lakh passengers were leaked, which includes name, date of birth, contact details, passport information, ticket information, frequent flyer data and even the credit card information.
How did Air India faced a data breach?
Air India announced that the data breach had taken place due to a breach from the SITA passenger service system.
Who took over Air India?
Tata Sons Ltd were the frontrunner in acquiring Air India.
Conclusion
Cyberattacks have been reported frequently by different companies and are posing a serious threat towards the privacy of individuals. The rise in digitalization across the globe has led to an increase in the cyber crimes and cyber attacks by the criminals.
Sarika Anand
