Tata Group's Air India CEO Campbell Wilson resigns

Campbell Wilson has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Tata Groupowned Air IndiaWilson was appointed as Air Indiarsquos CEO and Managing Director in July 2022 following former Turkish Airlines Chairman Ilker Aycirsquos decision not to take up the top job in March 2022 amid controversy Tata Group acquired Air India from the government in January 2022Wilson had informed Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran in 2024 of his decision to step down in 2026 and has since been focused on ensuring the organisation and leadership team are wellpositioned for a smooth transition He will continue in the role until his successor is appointed and takes charge the airline saidEarlier this year a source had said that the Tata Group was scouting for a suitable candidate to head Air India as Wilsonrsquos fiveyear tenure at the airline was set to end in 2027Air Indiarsquos lowcost subsidiary Air India Express has also been without a head since March 19 this year following the resignation of its then Managing Director Aloke Singh after he completed his fiveyear tenure the news agency reportedWilson has been under scrutiny since June 12 last year following the crash of the airlinersquos Londonbound flight shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport which killed 241 of the 242 people on board the Boeing 7878 aircraftFare cap removal may push up air ticket prices warn pilotsrsquo bodyThe Federation of Indian Pilots has criticised the timing of the Ministry of Civil Aviationrsquos MoCA decision to lift the domestic airfare cap from March 23 saying it will hurt passengersThe cap introduced on December 6 after the IndiGo fiasco had kept fares in check during high demand and rising fuel costs amid the West Asia conflict when carriers such as Air India announced that a surcharge would be applied on all flights booked from March 12 With its removal airlines can now price tickets freely based on demandPrice concernsWhile fliers have not complained about an increase in airfare yet the next few days will be critical as prices could increase in proportion with demand When midday examined airfare prices for the coming weeks no heavy hikes were observed on most routes Flights from Mumbai to Pune however were priced between Rs 7000 and Rs 11000 for onestop trips as direct flights are not available on the routeCaptainrsquos warninglsquoThis move removal of cap has been made at a very wrong time and will be detrimental for those looking to fly in the coming weeks Just as airfare had skyrocketed in December last year after the IndiGo chaos in a few days it might happen again especially for flights in and out of Delhi and MumbairsquoCaptain Charanvir Singh Randhawa president Federation of Indian PilotslsquoMotto falls flatrsquoCaptain Randhawa said the government could have chosen to decrease the tax on the fuel that airlines pay but instead they have chosen to remove the cap on fares that has been keeping tickets reasonably priced so far ldquoThe motto put out by our government lsquoUde Desh Ka Aam Nagrikrsquo falls flat on its face when the passengers have to pay high prices in a state of urgencyrdquoRs 7000 and Rs 11000Price range of MumbaiPune air tickets