One of the key concerns raised was the misuse of the airline's Employee Leisure Travel scheme.

Air India has removed more than 1,000 employees from service over the past three years as part of a major internal crackdown on misconduct and policy violations, according to senior management.

The revelation came during a recent staff interaction led by Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson, who highlighted the company’s zero-tolerance approach towards ethical lapses as the airline works to strengthen discipline and restore financial stability.

Wilson told employees that strict action had been taken against workers involved in various violations, including abuse of travel privileges, unauthorised baggage handling, and other activities considered harmful to the airline’s operational standards.

He said compliance failures continue to result in dismissals every year and stressed that professionalism must remain non-negotiable regardless of supervision.

One of the key concerns raised was the misuse of the airline’s Employee Leisure Travel scheme. Internal checks reportedly uncovered irregular usage by thousands of staff members, leading to disciplinary measures and financial penalties.

The airline’s tougher enforcement comes at a time when it is implementing broad cost-saving strategies to counter financial losses. Management has already frozen annual increments and advised departments to limit non-essential spending.

Wilson also cautioned staff that the current financial year could remain challenging, particularly if disruptions linked to the Middle East continue to affect operations.

Industry estimates suggest the combined losses of Air India and Air India Express crossed ₹22,000 crore during the financial year ending March 2026, underlining the scale of the turnaround challenge facing the Tata-owned aviation group.

The management has maintained that stronger accountability and tighter controls are essential as Air India pushes ahead with its long-term transformation plan.