Stories
Air India Welcomes New CEO, India Traffic Dips Amidst Aviation Challenges
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Forbes India•02-10-2026, 10:51
Air India Welcomes New CEO, India Traffic Dips Amidst Aviation Challenges
- •Tewolde Gebremariam formally takes charge as Air India's CEO and MD, prioritizing safety, operational reliability, and profitability.
- •A flydubai flight made an emergency landing after a co-pilot stabbed the Indian captain, injuring him but leaving him in stable condition.
- •Boeing identified a software issue on some 737 MAX aircraft that could disengage automated flight guidance during specific landing scenarios, affecting 96 aircraft in India.
- •IATA opposes Mumbai International Airport Ltd's plan to shift international flights to Navi Mumbai, citing concerns over airline consultation and operational readiness.
- •India's domestic air traffic fell 7.5 percent year-on-year in August, the largest decline among six major markets tracked by IATA.
- •ALPA India seeks tax relief for pilots to retain talent, proposing increased transport allowance exemption and doubled standard deduction to address potential pilot shortages.
Key Questions Answered
At his first company-wide town hall, newly appointed CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam identified safety, operational reliability, and profitability as his primary focuses for the airline.
Pilot body ALPA India asked the civil aviation ministry for targeted tax measures because higher take-home pay in tax-free jurisdictions is driving experienced Indian pilots to overseas airlines.
Boeing identified a software issue that could cause automated flight guidance to disengage during a specific landing scenario, though US transportation officials stated there is currently no safety concern or need to ground the fleet.
