Air India CEO race: CCO Nipun Aggarwal among contenders to replace Campbell Wilson

New Delhi: Air India's chief commercial and transformation officer Nipun Aggarwal is among the contenders to succeed Campbell Wilson as chief executive officer of the Tata-owned carrier, said people aware of the development. Two expat airline executives are also on the short list, they said.

Group holding company Tata Sons is said to be in the final stages of picking a successor to Wilson, whose resignation was announced earlier this month. Although his tenure lasts until September, it's understood that Wilson has said he'll leave early if a new successor is found. Air India has eight board members-three represent Tata Sons and three are independent directors. Singapore Airlines, which holds a 25.1% stake in the carrier, is represented by its CEO Goh Choon Phong.

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With a career in investment banking, Aggarwal led the team that brought the carrier into the Tata fold in 2021. He's been with Air India since then and was appointed as chairman of low-cost subsidiary Air India Express last year. Aggarwal has been instrumental in the expansion plans of the airline, leading negotiations on aircraft and engines and drawing up network plans, with more flights to Europe and North America.

This included aligning schedules such that flights were timed to arrive in a cluster at its hub in Delhi, allowing passengers to make connections to popular destinations such Europe and Australia with minimal wait times.

Air India officials said Aggarwal is closely involved in advocacy with the government on policy issues. "He's passionate about the airline and wants to lead from the front," said an Air India executive.

A spokesperson for the airline didn't respond to queries on the topic.

Four years after acquiring the airline, the Tata Group faces a challenging prospect with losses of over ₹20,000 crore in FY26. It's been under scrutiny from regulators across the world after a crash that killed over 260 people in Ahmedabad last year. The company's initial plan of breaking even within five years has now been pushed back.

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Losses are likely to increase sharply, as jet fuel prices have risen due to the war in West Asia.

Air India is bearing a heavier burden than rival IndiGo. The closure of Pakistani airspace has forced its flights bound for Europe and North America to take longer routes, sharply increasing fuel consumption and crew costs. Flights to North American cities must now make stops at Vienna or Stockholm, compounding the expense.