Overview
- Air India rolled out the new framework in internal briefings on Friday, combining fixed pay increases with revised flying and training pay to speed up captain promotions.
- Fixed salaries rise by about 8–15 percent with the largest hikes for commanders while the guaranteed 40-hour pay remains but hourly rates above 40 hours have been increased to reward extra flying.
- The group created a common seniority pool and made Air India Express the primary route to command, requiring senior first officers to take 737 command stints at AI Express before moving to wide-body command at Air India.
- Boeing 737 pilots are offered one-time retention allowances of ₹21 lakh for commanders (paid over three years) and ₹10 lakh for eligible senior first officers, and training pay will now follow fleet-average flying hours to protect incomes during type conversions.
- Some pilots reported receiving transfer letters and criticised compulsory base stints and a cut in annual privilege leave from 30 to 24 days, while the company points to investments in simulators and flying schools to meet rapid fleet growth.