Air India Appoints New Head at AI Express

The top executive of Air India has stepped down from the chairman role at its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express.

This transition signals a deeper restructuring effort as the group seeks to optimise internal collaboration and streamline its leadership structure amidst evolving market dynamics and intensifying global competition. The role of chairperson of the AI Express board will now be assumed by the group’s commercial head, a seasoned official who has long been a key architect of the airline’s turnaround efforts since its privatisation. The commercial strategist will continue to oversee group-wide commercial strategy while taking on the additional responsibility of steering the budget airline’s board—a move seen by sector experts as an attempt to more closely align the operational roadmap of Air India and AI Express.

The group’s chief operating officer has been appointed to the AI Express board in place of the former chairman. This official, with extensive operational expertise and international experience, is expected to play a pivotal role in creating tighter functional integration between the full-service and budget arms of the group, a critical component as the airline embarks on an ambitious fleet and service expansion plan. The top executive of Air India will continue in the role of Managing Director and CEO of the parent airline and the overarching Air India Group. In an internal communication to employees, the official expressed full support for the new leadership team at AI Express, stating that while the role change marks a shift in focus, it does not diminish the group’s collective ambition of becoming a world-class airline network. The outgoing chairman added that they will remain closely involved in group strategy, especially in guiding long-term transformation efforts.

This leadership pivot comes at a time when the group is in the midst of a sweeping overhaul, both operationally and culturally. With a recent mega aircraft order, a focus on digitisation, and an emphasis on global standards of service, the airline is realigning itself as a major player on the international aviation map. Observers note that the realignment within AI Express underscores the importance of coherent leadership in managing a diverse fleet and service portfolio while maintaining a consistent passenger experience. Industry insiders see this move as part of a broader strategy to foster seamless operational alignment between the full-service carrier and its low-cost counterpart. Such integration is crucial in optimising route networks, reducing cost redundancies, and improving customer service consistency—factors essential for long-term sustainability in a cost-sensitive market like India.

This shift in responsibility also reflects growing recognition within the aviation sector of the need for leadership models that balance commercial agility with operational rigour. By elevating senior group executives into cross-functional leadership roles, Air India appears to be deepening institutional capability and nurturing a leadership bench equipped to manage the complexities of a multi-brand aviation ecosystem. Beyond corporate restructuring, the leadership shake-up is expected to enhance focus on sustainability and digitisation—two pillars central to the group’s long-term roadmap. Air India Express has already been integrating green practices such as fuel-efficient aircraft adoption and route optimisation aimed at lowering carbon emissions. The new leadership is expected to accelerate such initiatives, aligning the subsidiary’s growth with India’s larger sustainability goals and net-zero carbon commitments.

As aviation remains a key enabler of urban growth and regional connectivity, these changes hold significance beyond corporate boardrooms. Efficient airline operations translate into better inter-city mobility, reduced travel time, and enhanced economic access for citizens—particularly in emerging urban centres. Moreover, integrating low-cost operations more effectively within the broader group could make air travel more affordable and accessible, supporting the long-term objective of equitable mobility. In doing so, Air India is poised not just to improve its competitiveness but to contribute meaningfully to the creation of sustainable, inclusive, and connected cities—goals that align with India’s climate and infrastructure priorities.

As India continues to assert its presence on the global aviation stage, the emphasis on leaner, more agile leadership within its national carrier is both timely and necessary. The success of this new configuration will ultimately be judged not just by profit margins or fleet size, but by its ability to deliver safe, affordable, and sustainable air travel that enhances lives and connects communities.

Also Read : https://urbanacres.in/land-acquisition-begins-for-purandar-airport/

Air India Appoints New Head at AI Express