Air India and Air India Express Raise Pilot Salaries by up to 15%; Check Details
Air India and Air India Express have raised pilot salaries by 9 per cent to 15 per cent, effective October, to retain experienced flight crew amid aggressive recruitment by Middle Eastern carriers. Air India has introduced one-time transfer allowances ranging between INR 10 lakh and INR 21 lakh for pilots willing to transition to its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express.
Air India and Air India Express have announced salary hikes ranging from 9 per cent to 15 per cent for their pilot workforce, effective October. The move is part of an industry-wide effort by Indian carriers to retain experienced cockpit crews amid aggressive recruitment from Middle Eastern airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad.
Under the revised pay structure, Air India will maintain its guaranteed payment model for a minimum of 40 hours of flying per month, with additional allowances granted for hours flown beyond that threshold. Air India Phuket-Delhi Turbulence: Final Drug Report Awaited, Crew Members Taken Off Roster, Says Govt.
New Pay Structure and Senior Commander Earnings
Internal documents reviewed by media outlets indicate that senior Air India commanders will see a substantial boost in their monthly compensation. For a baseline of 40 hours of flying time per month, senior commanders will earn approximately INR 7 lakh, up from the previous RINR 6.41 lakh - representing an increase of about 9 per cent, repors the Economic Times. For pilots logging up to 70 hours a month, monthly compensation will rise from INR 7.61 lakh to around INR 8.9 lakh, marking an increase of nearly 17 per cent.
Additionally, Air India has introduced one-time transfer allowances ranging between INR 10 lakh and INR 21 lakh for pilots willing to transition to its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, as that airline prepares to integrate approximately 40 Boeing 737 Max aircraft into its fleet.
Broader Industry Pressures and Fleet Expansion
The salary adjustments arrive during a period of rapid growth and operational restructuring for the Tata Group-owned airlines. Since acquiring Air India and Air India Express in January 2022, the group has expanded its combined fleet from roughly 100 aircraft to approximately 300. Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Turbulence: Captain Fails Post-Flight Dope Test, Airline Issues Statement as DGCA Probes Incident.
At the same time, Indian carriers face heightened competition for talent. Major domestic competitors, including IndiGo, have also scaled up recruitment efforts to support rapid fleet growth. Training timelines remain a critical factor in the industry: trainee first officers typically require six months of training and a minimum of 1,500 hours of right-seat experience before becoming eligible for a captain upgrade.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2026 01:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
