Air India Turnaround May Take Up to 10 Years- Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran

Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has said that the complete turnaround of Air India could take another five to ten years, acknowledging that the airline's transformation is proving to be more challenging than initially expected. When the Tata Group reacquired Air India, it had hoped to restructure the loss-making carrier and restore profitability within five years. However, Chandrasekaran said the scale of operational and structural challenges has extended the timeline for achieving that goal.

Industry experts attribute Air India's continued struggles to multiple factors, including delays in the delivery of newly ordered aircraft, shortages of spare parts for its ageing fleet, rising aviation fuel prices, and the extensive work required to refurbish older aircraft with modern interiors. Despite being under Tata Group ownership for nearly four and a half years, the airline continues to incur heavy losses. During the 2025-26 financial year, Air India reportedly recorded a net loss of ₹22,238 crore, underscoring the long road ahead in its revival journey.