'Consequences will get higher': Air India CEO Campbell Wilson tells staff amid crackdown on rule violations

Synopsis

Air India chief Campbell Wilson urged staff to do the right thing even when unobserved. He highlighted instances of employee travel privilege misuse and other violations since privatization. Around one thousand employees have been terminated for various rule breaches since January 2022. Systems and controls are being tightened to prevent and address abuse within the airline. Wilson will depart next month after leading the company through these changes.

Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson told employees to "do the right thing" even when unsupervised, warning that the consequences of misconduct would only escalate, PTI reported on Thursday citing sources, as the airline continues to crack down on violations of internal rules including misuse of employee travel privileges.

Wilson's remarks came during an internal townhall and were largely aimed at explaining the termination of around 1,000 employees for various rule violations since the airline's privatisation by the Tata Group in January 2022.

Also read: Air India makes psychoactive substance testing mandatory for pilots after Phuket incident

"Do the right thing, even when no one is watching. If you see someone doing the wrong thing, report it. Know that the chances of getting away are getting fewer and fewer... know that the consequences of doing the wrong thing will only get higher," Wilson told staff, according to sources cited by PTI.

Sources said Wilson pointed out that there remain instances of employees behaving as though company rules and regulations do not apply to them, and that the airline continues to encounter cases of deliberate rule-breaking despite repeated warnings.

While Wilson made no direct reference to any specific case, his comments come days after the pilot-in-command of Air India's Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379 tested positive for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test. The Airbus A320 aircraft had suddenly lost around 300 feet in altitude during cruise on August 4, an incident that left several passengers and crew injured and is currently being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Following the episode, Air India and Air India Express have said they will conduct psychoactive substance screening for all pilots.

Also read: Centre asks Air India to ‘take responsibility’ after Phuket-Delhi flight scare; orders tighter dope checks: Report

At the townhall, Wilson also said the airline has, since privatisation, progressively rolled out systems and controls to prevent, detect and act on misconduct, and reiterated that these checks would continue to be tightened.

Wilson's comments come at a time of leadership transition at the airline. He announced his resignation as CEO and MD earlier this year and is set to step down next month. The once loss-making carrier was acquired by the Tata Group from the Indian government in January 2022.

(With inputs from PTI)