With Air India ordering 470 planes to replace its ageing fleet, the Tata Group airline will need over 6,500 pilots to fly these aircraft to be supplied by Airbus and Boeing in the coming years, news agency PTI reported citing sources.
Air India is seeking to upgrade its fleet and expand its operations, and as part of the efforts, it has placed orders for a total of 470 wide-body and narrow-body planes from Airbus and Boeing, the two largest manufacturers of aircraft in the world. There is also an option to purchase 370 additional planes. This is one of the largest aircraft order by any airline in the world in the entire aviation history.
Currently, the Tata group flagship carrier has around 1,600 pilots operating its 113 aircraft.
Its two subsidiaries — Air India Express and AirAsia India — employ around 850 pilots who are flying their 54 planes. Its joint venture Vistara has more than 600 pilots, operating a fleet of 53 aircraft, as per PTI report.
Air India, Air India Express, Vistara and AirAsia India together employ over 3,000 pilots and have the combined fleet size of 220 aircraft.
The latest Airbus firm order comprises 210 A320/321 Neo/XLR and 40 A350-900/1000. The Boeing firm order comprises 190 737-Max, 20 787s and 10 777s.
Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that Air India’s mega aircraft order placed with Airbus and Boeing underlines the potential of aviation sector in India.
With long-haul aircraft, India will have the capability of having an international hub, the minister said adding that this heralds a new dawn for civil aviation in the country.
