India will witness a scramble for captains between Air India group and IndiGo. While Air India does not have a shortage as of now for its fleet except the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, it has to hire for the future. IndiGo will have to improve its pilot-management relations to retain and attract talent. Akasa does not need more pilots (it has a big surplus). Unless AI & IndiGo offer better working conditions to pilots, they will not be able to stem the flow to Middle East and other places like Vietnam,” said Captain Shakti Lumba, former VP of AI and IndiGo.
IndiGo has slightly raised pilot pay from next month, by enhancing some existing and adding new allowances. Air India is planning a major salvo which will be fired in first week of Jan and is a closely guarded secret within the airline.
Pilots at both AI Group and IndiGo have been unhappy for two main reasons — poor working condition and a pay structure that did not keep pace with inflation. While the FDT proposes to reduce fatigue, the tug of war means that both will have to become humane employers for pilots.
While IndiGo will have less strenuous working norms for pilots that will increase its requirement, AI plans to be ready for aircraft induction that is expected from next year. As of now, only AI’s Boeing 787 fleet pilots fly more while the B777 and Airbus A320 not so much. That should change from next year and AI does not want to be in Big Blue shoes when that happens.
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