GURUGRAM- IndiGo (6E) Airlines, the largest airline in India by market share, has announced a salary increase for its pilots and cabin crew.
This salary hike comes after a previous increase of over 10 percent, which was implemented in two stages last year. The new increment will take effect from October 1st.
IndiGo Increases Salary of Crew
Ashim Mittra, Senior Vice President at IndiGo, mentioned in an internal communication reviewed by ET that despite losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline has managed to recover in the last three quarters.
As a result, they have implemented a salary increment for all their line-released pilots. The average hike is reported to be above 10%, although it may vary from one employee to another.
IndiGo, which holds over 60% of India’s domestic market share, reported a net profit of Rs 3,090 crore for the April-June period, marking its highest quarterly profit to date.
Additionally, the company has maintained a fixed pay for 70 hours, ensuring that pilots receive a minimum salary for these hours. Beyond the fixed hours, pilots will continue to receive payment for overtime.
Fierce Competition from Rivals
In contrast to IndiGo, its competitors like Air India (AI) and Akasa Air (QP), which are smaller in scale, have a fixed pay structure for 40 hours.
Pilots have expressed concerns about their income being linked to the airline’s flight operations, which can significantly affect their earnings.
Ashim Mittra mentioned, “Airlines within and outside India adhere to varying minimum monthly committed hour standards. Our approach has consistently been to maintain a minimum of 70 hours.”
IndiGo’s decision to increase salaries comes at a time when airlines are grappling with the challenge of recruiting and retaining senior captains and trainers, particularly in light of record aircraft orders.
Akasa Air has taken legal action against 43 pilots who allegedly left the airline without fulfilling the mandatory six-month notice period. This situation compelled the airline to implement two salary increases within a month.
In April, Air India, which Tata Group owns, raised salaries by 20% and introduced an accelerated career advancement program for its flight crew.
The aviation industry is currently experiencing its most active year of pilot recruitment in over three years, driven by the need to replenish a workforce that was depleted during the pandemic and strained due to a rapid rebound in travel demand.
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