Campbell Wilson steps down as AI Express chairman; Nipun Aggarwal to take over that role

NEW DELHI: Air India MD & CEO Campbell Wilson has stepped down as chairman of the AI Express board and Nipun Aggarwal will take over that role. Aggarwal, who was already on the board of the budget airline, will continue in his role as AI’s chief commercial officer. AI’s COO Captain Basil Kwauk will replace Wilson on the AI Express board. Wilson will continue as AI MD & CEO.

“I will obviously remain keenly interested in AI Express’ progress and success, fully support Nipun and Basil in their additional roles, and remain responsible for the overall performance of the Air India Group,” Wilson said in a message to employees.

“Over the past 18 months we completed many structural changes critical to transforming and rebuilding of the AI Group, including merging our four airlines into two…. With this structural work largely complete, the task at hand now to fully leverage and optimise the group fleet, network, sales, distribution and loyalty assets. I’ve therefore decided that the time is right for me to step down as chairman of the AI Express board, and for Nipun Aggarwal, who is already on the board of AIX, to assume the chairman role (while also continuing his Air India CCO duties), thus enabling greater coordination of the group's network and commercial efforts,” Wilson said in a message to employees.

At AI Express, Captain Basil Kwuak will ensure “operational synergy between the (two) airlines.” The decision comes as in the last few months the Tata Group has ensures the successful merger of Vistara into AI and erstwhile AirAsia India into AI Express, thus consolidating both its FSC and the LCC arms. “consolidating our non-flying teams in Gurugram, and refreshing the leadership teams of both AI and AI Express. We’ve also worked hard to improve the communication, collaboration and coordination between our full service and low cost airlines across all functions, for the benefit of each airline and the group overall,” Wilson listed as the tasks accomplished after which he decided on this change.

Sources say the “basic nuts & bolts have been fixed and Wilson along with other senior team members will now focus more on the larger picture.” While passengers may still be awaiting the changes in their flying experience on many AI flights, the Tatas have placed record order for ew aircraft and also decided to spruce up existing planes. However, supply chain challenges along with much lower than expected deliveries from both Boeing and Airbus have made things tough not just for AI but all airlines globally. This slowdown becomes more noticeable in AI’s case as that has prolonged passengers’ wait for spruced up interiors specifically on its old wide body aircraft.