Air India stalls as Tata Sons wrestles over its next chief executive. Campbell Wilson resigned in April after a fatal crash and a $3bn loss. Two contenders surface: Nipun Aggarwal, chief commercial officer, and Vinod Kannan, former Vistara CEO. N Chandrasekaran backs Aggarwal, but his future at the group remains unclear for the company future.

Tata Trusts chair Noel Tata objects to another term for Chandrasekaran, while most directors favor it. Aggarwal’s tenure ends February 2027, and the board delays a decision on extending it. The airline faces a “perfect storm” of a Gulf fuel surge, a 20% capacity cut, and a $600mn hit from Pakistan’s airspace closure for operations.

The crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad last year still haunts Air India, with the investigation pending a final report. Meanwhile, the airline’s $2.8bn loss in the year to March end signals deep financial strain, even as it pushes a 570‑plane fleet renewal that supply‑chain woes have delayed to meeting delivery goals soon.

Aggarwal, who helped acquire Air India for nearly $2.4bn, is seen as a cost‑cutter, yet critics warn he lacks full‑service airline experience. With the board still undecided, investors watch closely as the airline’s restructuring could reshape India’s aviation market and influence Tata’s broader portfolio including telecommunications, steel and others in the group strategy for growth.