Now Reading: Air India hikes pilot pay up to 15% to stem attrition
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Air India hikes pilot pay up to 15% to stem attrition
Air India has hiked pilot fixed pay by 8-15% and revised flying allowances to check attrition, sources said. Commanders get the largest increase. The airline will continue to guarantee pay for 40…
The Story in Brief
Air India has hiked pilot fixed pay by 8-15% and revised flying allowances to check attrition, sources said. Commanders get the largest increase. The airline will continue to guarantee pay for 40 hours a month but has raised hourly rates for flying beyond that threshold. Boeing 737 commanders at Air India Express will get a one-time allowance of Rs 21 lakh spread over three years, while senior first officers will receive Rs 10 lakh, the sources said.
Under a new career framework, Air India Express will be the primary route to command. Pilots must first gain command experience at the low-cost carrier before progressing to wide-body operations at Air India. A common seniority pool across the two airlines will allow pilots to move into long-haul flying. Annual privilege leave has been cut from 30 to 24 days. Air India Group has grown from 100 aircraft to nearly 300 since 2022 and has 600 new aircraft on order, The Hindu reports.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Tata Group has turned Air India around ignores the Rs 55,000 crore loss since 2022. A 40-hour guaranteed pay, unchanged for four years, still trails IndiGo's 70-hour norm despite the 8-15% hike. The real test will be whether this package actually slows resignations once the 600 new aircraft arrive and demand for pilots surges further. Can a common seniority pool truly bridge the gulf between a full-service carrier and a low-cost arm?
Sources (3): thehindu.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
