Brands
Aloke Singh to step down as Air India Express chief
Hamish Maxwell takes charge of compliance and safety as carrier reshapes operations
MUMBAI: Aloke Singh is set to step down as chief executive of Air India Express, drawing the curtain on what he calls a five year phase of “defining transformation” at the Tata Group’s low cost international carrier.
In a farewell memo to employees, Singh reflected on an airline that, in his words, evolved from a “sub-scale niche operator into India’s third-largest narrow-body carrier”. It was a tenure marked not just by change, but by scale. Under his leadership, the fleet expanded four fold to more than 100 aircraft, while the workforce grew to around 8,300 people.
The airline confirmed that Hamish Maxwell, currently chief operating officer, will assume the role of accountable manager. He will oversee regulatory compliance, operational performance and safety, taking charge at a time when operational discipline is central to the airline’s next phase.
Singh’s departure comes as Air India Express continues to streamline its fleet and network while aligning more closely with the broader ambitions of the Air India group. The integration drive, following the merger with AirAsia India, aims to simplify operations and strengthen the carrier’s position in India’s fiercely competitive budget travel market.
Reflecting on the intense merger process and rapid fleet expansion, Singh told employees that what would endure most was the “team’s resolve and professionalism during high-pressure moments”. The tone of his note was both proud and personal. “Ours has been a journey without parallel. I would not trade a single chapter,” he wrote.
A seasoned aviation executive, Singh has led Air India Express since November 2020. Before that, he served as senior advisor for airline consulting at CAPA – Centre for Aviation and was co founder and chief executive of OpenSky Resorts. Earlier in his career, he held the role of chief officer network planning at Oman Air in Muscat, and spent more than two decades in various roles at Air India Limited, culminating as executive director for strategy and planning.
As Singh signs off, Air India Express finds itself larger, leaner and mid transition. With Maxwell now overseeing compliance and safety, the airline’s message is clear: the transformation story may have a new narrator, but the flight path remains firmly set.
