Shifting currents in the air over India

AIR INDIA

As WA continues its wait for direct flights to India, Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson has resigned from his position with the airline.

New Zealand-born Campbell, who was due to be with the airline until 2027, is a former Singapore Airlines executive who brought its low-cost offshoot Scoot to WA.

Air India is facing a range of challenges, from financial losses to the aftermath of a crash last year that killed 260 people, and the subsequent regulatory reprimands it has received over safety failings.

Since its privatisation and ownership by the Tata Group, Air India has acquired and merged four airlines. Its systems have been modernised and added 100 aircraft added to its fleet.

INDIGO

Pieter Elbers, the chief executive of India’s biggest low-cost carrier, IndiGo, has also gone.

There have been accusations of management inefficiency, near-misses in the air and crew morale and fatigue issues. IndiGo has nearly 400 Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Following the CEO stepping down, Rahul Bhatia, managing director of IndiGo, has stepped up.

“Rahul returns to assume management of the affairs of the airline to strengthen the company’s culture, reinforce operational excellence and deepen its commitment to delivering exceptional service of care, reliability and professionalism to its customers,” says the chairman of the board Vikram Singh Mehta.

And Rahul explains: “Having founded and nurtured IndiGo for 22 years, I feel a deep sense of personal commitment and responsibility towards our nation, and towards the airline’s customers, employees, shareholders and all other stakeholders.

“While placing culture, service excellence and stakeholder trust at the forefront of its operations, IndiGo will continue to sharpen its strategic focus on serving India and her people with an airline that is professionally managed, operationally reliable and globally respected.”