Tata Group-owned Air India has offered to re-hire pilots for a five-year term after they retire as the airline seeks operational stability amid rumours of acquiring 300 single-aisle aircraft, according to internal communication.
According to Air India, the company is contemplating rehiring these pilots as commanders. According to a senior official, the airline has asked retired pilots for their permission to fill this position.
According to the official, the notification has been given to the pilots who have been retired for up to three years.
This occurs at the same time that the full-service airline launched a voluntary retirement programme for its staff, including cabin crew, and at the same time that it began hiring new personnel for the once state-controlled carrier.
Compared to other important positions like cabin personnel and aircraft maintenance engineers, pilots are an airline’s most expensive asset and earn the greatest money.
Additionally, there has always been a problem with the lack of qualified pilots in the domestic aviation sector.
“We are pleased to inform you are being considered for the post-retirement contract as commander in Air India for a period of 5 years or till you attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier,” Air India Deputy General Manager for Personnel, Vikas Gupta, said in an internal mail.
“During the period of the post-retirement contract, you will be paid the remuneration and flying allowances, as admissible, as per the policy of Air India to such appointments,” he stated.
The deadline for interested pilots to submit their information with written consent is June 23.
Following a successful bid for the airline in October of last year, Tata Group acquired ownership of the airline on January 27 of this year.
Pilots at Air India can retire at age 58, just like the rest of the company’s staff. Air India used to reassign its retired pilots on a contract basis prior to the pandemic, however the practise was stopped after late March 2020. In an effort to lessen the impact of the pandemic, the contracts of these pilots were also cancelled.
However, pilots at other private airlines continue to fly until they are 65 years old.
