Air India Terminates Over 1,000 Employees Over Ethical Breaches

Air India Faces Compliance and Cost Challenges Amid Staff Action

Air India has terminated more than 1,000 employees over the past three years for ethical and compliance-related violations, according to CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson.

Speaking during a town hall meeting with employees, Wilson said the airline continues to take action against cases involving misconduct and policy violations. He stated that hundreds of employees are dismissed each year for non-compliance and stressed the importance of maintaining professional standards across the organisation.

The airline said some of the violations included misuse of the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system, unauthorised excess baggage approvals, and cases involving the movement of items from aircraft without permission.

In March, reports indicated that Air India had identified discrepancies in the use of its leisure travel policy involving more than 4,000 employees. Corrective measures and penalties were initiated against staff found violating company guidelines.

The Tata Group-owned airline currently employs around 24,000 people across its operations.

The developments come as Air India continues to implement cost-control measures amid financial pressures and rising operational expenses. The airline has delayed annual salary increments and advised employees to reduce discretionary and non-essential spending.

Wilson also told employees that the current financial year could remain challenging if conditions linked to the Middle East situation do not improve.

According to reports, the Air India Group, including Air India Express, is projected to record losses exceeding Rs 22,000 crore for the financial year ending March 2026.

The airline has also recently reduced flight operations in response to higher aviation fuel costs and broader market pressures affecting the aviation sector.

For more travel and tourism content, follow Safari India.