This year, Air India intends to hire more than 900 pilots and 4,200 trainees for the cabin crew as part of its ambitious fleet and network growth ambitions. The airline operated by the Tata Group intends to increase hiring of maintenance engineers and pilots in the future. The airline recently revealed a sizable 470-aircraft purchase order from Airbus and Boeing, and this announcement follows shortly after that. The deal also includes 370 options, bringing the total number of planes ordered up to 840.
Even the definitive purchase for 470 aircraft represents the largest single aircraft order ever placed by an airline. In addition, the Tata Group airline has already begun leasing 36 aircraft, two of which have already been added to its fleet, according to a statement from Air India. There are currently 140 aircraft in the combined Air India and Air India Express fleet, the majority of which are narrow-body models. 70 of the 470 planes the airline has purchased are wide-body models, while 400 are single-aisle models. 31 of the ordered aircraft are anticipated to be delivered to Air India this year.
After all the ordered aircraft are delivered, the Air India group which would include a full-service carrier following the merger of Air India and Vistara and a low-cost airline after the merging of Air India Express and AirAsia India would need hundreds of pilots to operate its increased fleet. About 6,500 pilots are reportedly needed, according to some publications. Since Air India was given back to the Tata Group a little more than a year ago, the new owners have been concentrating on improving the product range and organizing a significant expansion for the airline. With the goal of significantly expanding the airline’s network and fleet in order to place it on a “path to sustained development, profitability, and market leadership,” a five-year roadmap called Vihaan.AI was created.
With a 15-week program that will include “intensive classroom and in-flight training,” Air India wants to hire cabin staff from all around the nation. The airline continued by stating that since May of last year, it has hired approximately 1,900 cabin crew members, of whom about 500 have been on the ground for the last three months.