Air India Offers To Re-Hire Retired Pilots For 5 Years

Air India had offered to Re-Hire Retired Pilots, previously rolled out a voluntary retirement scheme for its employees, and started recruiting newer ones.

Highlights:

•Air India will rehire its aging pilots as commanders.

• Pilots willing to work may submit their details with the written consent by 23^rd June. They will remunerate them as per its policy. The shortage of experienced pilots in the industry is one of the reasons behind the move. Air India’s policy brings it to par with other private airlines. Tata group, the new owners of Air India, may rehire retired pilots for five years. Also, they may rehire these pilots as commanders.

The recently privatized airline may require some operational stability while the Tatas prod on buying 300 single-aisle planes. Air India has recently rolled out a voluntary retirement scheme for its employees, including its cabin crew.

It has also started recruiting newer crew as a replacement.

Shortage of Experienced in the Domestic Aviation Sector and Air India Re-hire process:

Pilots are usually the most expensive asset in an airline. An airline pays the highest sum of money to a pilot when compared to other crew members.

Moreover, there is also a scarcity of effectively trained pilots in the domestic aviation sector. This can be a reason why Air India wants to retain its aging pilots.

“We are pleased to inform you you are being considered for the post-retirement contract as commander in Air India. You can now work for 5 years more or till you are 65”, said Vikas Gupta, Air India Deputy General Manager. Air India will remunerate these re-hire retired pilots post-retirement as per its policies, he added.

Pilots willing to work are to submit their details along with written consent by June 23^rd as per mail.

Air India pilots, like its other employees, usually retire when they are 58 years old. However, they also used to rehire its retired pilots on contract.

It eventually discontinued this practice after late March 2020 and terminated such contracts to partially offset the pandemic. However, other airlines usually employ pilots till they are 65 years old. The Tata group took control of Air India on 27^th January this year.

(Inputs PTI)