Tata Group-owned Air India has dismissed more than 1,000 employees over the past three years for breaching the company's code of conduct. According to reports from The Times of India, CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson revealed this during a recent town hall meeting with staff. The dismissed employees faced serious charges, including smuggling goods on aircraft, allowing passengers to carry excess baggage without collecting applicable fees, and misusing the company's Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system.
The crackdown comes at a time when Air India is under severe financial strain. As reported by The Times of India, the airline group is estimated to post a loss of over ₹22,000 crore in the financial year 2026. To manage these losses, the company has implemented stringent cost control measures, including putting annual salary increments on hold and cutting non-essential expenses. Adding to the pressure, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have risen due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
According to The Times of India, Air India currently employs around 24,000 people. Over 4,000 employees were investigated for misusing the Employee Leisure Travel system, while several were fined, and some were terminated. Wilson noted that despite signing the Tata Code of Conduct, many employees were not adhering to it, and made clear this would no longer be tolerated. The investigation revealed widespread misuse of travel benefits among staff members.
