Zero Tolerance at 35,000 Feet: Air India Fires Over 1,000 Staff for Misconduct Since Tata Takeover

As the Tata-owned carrier battles mounting financial losses and tightens its belt, CEO Campbell Wilson has put the entire workforce on notice — dishonesty will cost you your job, no matter who is watching.

Air India’s top leadership has drawn a firm line on workplace ethics, with CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson revealing that the airline has dismissed more than a thousand employees over the past three years for conduct violations ranging from smuggling items off aircraft to allowing unchecked excess baggage through without levying any charge.

Wilson made the disclosure during a town hall address to staff on Friday, flagging that hundreds of employees face termination every year for failing to comply with the airline’s code of conduct. His message was unambiguous: doing the right thing is not optional, and it applies even when no one is watching.

Among the violations cited were misuse of the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system, a benefit meant for personal use that was instead exploited on a significant scale. As far back as March, the airline had detected widespread irregularities in how the travel perk was being used, involving more than 4,000 employees, and had begun imposing penalties on those found to have abused it.

The tough stance on integrity comes at a moment of acute financial strain for the carrier. Air India has implemented a series of cost-cutting measures, including holding back annual salary increments and directing staff to reduce discretionary and non-critical spending. Wilson did not mince words about the road ahead, warning staff that it would be a very difficult year if conditions on the Middle East routes do not improve — a key revenue artery that has been under pressure.

The scale of the financial challenge is stark: the Air India Group, comprising Air India and Air India Express, is projected to have accumulated losses exceeding Rs 22,000 crore for the financial year ended March 2026.

The airline currently employs approximately 24,000 people — a workforce that Wilson appears determined to hold to a higher standard as the Tata Group pushes ahead with its ambitious overhaul of the once-beleaguered national carrier. The management’s message is that restoring Air India’s reputation in the skies must go hand in hand with restoring its integrity on the ground.