Now Reading: Air India hikes pilot pay 8-15%, overhauls career path
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Air India hikes pilot pay 8-15%, overhauls career path
Air India has announced an 8, 15% increase in pilots’ fixed salary and higher flying pay for hours beyond the guaranteed 40-hour threshold, The Hindu reports. The Tata Group-owned airline also introduced…
The Story in Brief
Air India has announced an 8, 15% increase in pilots’ fixed salary and higher flying pay for hours beyond the guaranteed 40-hour threshold, The Hindu reports. The Tata Group-owned airline also introduced a one-time fleet retention allowance for Boeing 737 commanders (₹21 lakh) and senior first officers (₹10 lakh) to address cockpit crew shortages at low-cost subsidiary Air India Express.
Training compensation will now be linked to average flying hours of the pilot’s fleet type, protecting earnings during extended training periods. A common seniority pool has been created across Air India and Air India Express, and pilots must complete a stint at Express before becoming eligible for captaincy, with preferred base postings after two years.
The Indian Opinion
Air India’s revamp tackles real complaints, low guaranteed pay and lost income during training, but the 40-hour guarantee still trails IndiGo’s 70-hour floor, so the attrition gap may not close quickly. The push to rotate pilots through Air India Express could be seen as a stick (delaying command) or a carrot (base preference). The real test: will monthly pilot departures drop in the next quarter, or will IndiGo counter with another raise? One number will settle the argument.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
