Now Reading: Air India CEO targets A350 engine cost in savings drive
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Air India CEO targets A350 engine cost in savings drive
Air India CEO Tewolde Gebremariam is targeting higher-than-expected maintenance costs for the airline’s six Airbus A350-900 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, as part of a broader cost-cutting drive. The airline has flagged the expenses to service providers under Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare programme, Economic Times reports, citing a Bloomberg report. The airline, which reported a record annual loss of over ₹22,000 crore in FY2025-26 according to Economic Times, or about $2.3 billion in 2025-26 according to Times of India, is also seeking about ₹10,000 crore in additional funding from shareholders Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.
A committee under Gebremariam is examining cost-saving opportunities across Air India and low-cost subsidiary Air India Express, including consolidating the two carriers under one operating permit, Times of India reports. Times of India also notes that the airline’s situation worsened after the June 2026 Ahmedabad crash. Air India’s board of directors is expected to discuss cost-reduction measures at its meeting on Thursday, 15 October 2026, according to PTI as cited by Economic Times.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Economic Times and Times of India both report Air India's cost-cutting drive but differ in emphasis. Economic Times focuses on CEO Gebremariam's specific target, higher-than-expected A350 engine maintenance costs, and reports a record ₹22,000 crore loss, funding needs, and Tata Sons' directive to slow expansion. Times of India omits engine maintenance entirely, leading with a ₹2.3 billion ($5.7 billion total) loss figure and the CEO's memo on a cross-functional cost-saving team, while attributing losses partly to the June 2026 Ahmedabad crash. The uniform element is the establishment of a cost-saving committee. The balanced reading: both outlets confirm a deep financial crisis, but Economic Times gives a granular operational view (engines, consolidation), while Times of India takes a broader, crisis-narrative angle (mounting losses, crash). The concrete next step: Air India’s board is expected to discuss cost-reduction measures.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
