Air India, a Tata group-backed airline, has recently announced a new salary structure for its cabin crews and pilots, effective from April 1st. The new salary pattern offers a minimum salary of Rs 50,000 per month for a pilot, and a maximum of Rs 8.5 lakh per month, with variations depending on the pilot category and the number of flying hours. Meanwhile, for cabin crews, the minimum salary is set at Rs 25,000 per month, while the maximum can go up to Rs 78,000 per month, depending on the level of the employee.
When it comes to pilot levels, a trainee pilot (junior first officer under training) will receive Rs 50,000 per month. Junior first officers after line release and with up to one year of experience will receive Rs 2.35 lakh per month.
The monthly salary for a first officer at Air India is Rs 3.45 lakh, whereas a captain (SFO) – a first officer with ATPL – will receive Rs 4.75 lakh per month. A commander who has been internally upgraded from a captain/SFO and holds a P1 rating on the company’s aircraft type will earn Rs 7.50 lakh per month.
Senior commanders with more than four years of P1 rating on company aircraft type will earn Rs 8.50 lakh per month. Pilots are also entitled to various allowances, such as flying allowances, wide body allowances, domestic layover allowances, and international layover allowances, depending on their level of experience and hours flown.
For cabin crews, the salary structure is also dependent on the level of the employee and the number of flying hours. A trainee cabin crew will get Rs 25,000 per month, while a senior cabin crew can earn up to Rs 64,000 per month, and an executive cabin crew member can receive up to Rs 78,000 per month. In addition, cabin crews are also entitled to flying allowances, airport standby allowances, check crew allowances, and international and domestic layover allowances.
It’s important to note that the salary structure assumes 70 hours of flying per month for both pilots and cabin crews. Movements between levels will also be subject to safety and disciplinary policies of the company. Air India has stated that this new salary structure is aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the aviation industry.
