THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, May 10: Air India has terminated more than 1,000 employees over the last three years for ethical breaches, including misuse of employee travel benefits and other policy violations, according to the airline’s CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with employees on Friday, Wilson said hundreds of staff members are removed every year for non-compliance and stressed the importance of maintaining ethical conduct.
The Tata Group-owned airline currently has around 24,000 employees.
Misuse of Employee Leisure Travel Policy Detected
Wilson said some employees were terminated for activities such as smuggling items off aircraft and allowing excess baggage without charging passengers.
He also referred to misuse of the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system by hundreds of employees.
In March, Air India had detected large-scale discrepancies in the use of its leisure travel policy involving more than 4,000 employees. Corrective measures, including penalties against erring staff, were initiated, sources had told PTI.
Air India Implements Cost-Cutting Measures
The airline has also introduced cost-saving measures amid mounting financial pressure. These include holding back annual increments, reducing discretionary spending and cutting non-essential expenditure.
Addressing employees, Wilson reportedly said the airline faces a “very, very difficult year” if the situation in the Middle East does not improve.
The Air India Group — comprising Air India and Air India Express — is projected to have incurred losses exceeding Rs 22,000 crore in the financial year ending March 2026.