Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 15 (ANI): Former CEO and MD of Air India, Campbell Wilson, on Tuesday said it has been a privilege to be part of the airline's long and proud history.

Wilson said he is happy to have handed over charge to Tewolde Gebremariam as his successor.

'Air India and India have been a wonderful experience. It's been a privilege to be part of Air India's long and proud history. I'm very happy to be handing over to Tewolde Gebremariam as my successor. I wish Air India and India all the very best in the continued rise to become a world-class airline,' Wilson told reporters. 

The Board of Directors of Air India last month announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam as the airline's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson. Gebremariam took charge earlier this month.  

Tewolde Gebremariam and his predecessor Campbell Wilson on Tuesday arrived together at Bombay House in Mumbai just as the Centre summoned the airline's chief over an alleged security lapse involving three foreign nationals who departed Delhi airport without mandatory immigration clearance.

The Centre summoned Air India CEO over an alleged immigration lapse involving three foreign nationals who reportedly departed India without undergoing mandatory departure immigration clearance at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, sources said.

According to sources, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has sought an explanation from the airline after the incident, terming it a "serious security and immigration-related lapse".

The ministry has issued a show-cause notice to Air India seeking details regarding the circumstances that led to the alleged violation of mandatory immigration procedures.

Earlier on September 7, Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran reaffirmed the airline's focus on safety, customer trust, operational excellence and financial sustainability as it enters its next phase of transformation.

According to sources, speaking at an internal meeting, Chandrasekaran stressed that restoring trust in Air India must remain the airline's foremost priority, and said this would require world-class processes, rigorous compliance and personal accountability across the organisation, as per industry sources."The most important thing Air India should aspire to have is trust in the minds of people. Air India must be known for caring about safety above everything else. Our safety record should not just match the best airlines in the world; it should be better than the best,' sources quoted him as saying. (ANI)