Tata Group-owned Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express faced a combined net loss of Rs 22,238 crore in FY26, more than double the previous year’s loss of Rs 10,859 crore. Their combined revenue also decreased by nearly 9 percent, amounting to Rs 71,870 crore in FY26.
Air India’s individual revenue was Rs 51,452 crore with a net loss of Rs 15,368 crore, while Air India Express reported revenue of Rs 19,088 crore and a net loss of Rs 6,767 crore.
Currently, Tata Sons owns 73.82 percent of Air India, with 25.1 percent owned by Singapore Airlines and 1.08 percent by employees through a share benefit scheme established during the airline’s privatization in 2022.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran emphasized to shareholders that the airline’s transformation is a long-term endeavor, highlighting that creating a top-tier global airline requires sustained effort over many years, not just a few quarters.
Chandrasekaran stressed that Air India’s transformation is a journey spanning five to ten years, considering the challenges faced such as supply chain disruptions, the necessity to modernize systems, fleet renewal, cultural changes, and the development of a skilled workforce.
Despite ongoing investments by the Tata Group to revitalize Air India post-acquisition from the government in 2022, indications suggest that the airline’s recovery may take longer than initially expected.
Recently, Air India engaged UK-based Skytech-AIC to manage the sale of six Airbus A319 aircraft.
