According to The Economic Times, Indian low-cost carrier Akasa Air, which launched scheduled commercial operations on 7 August, has increased its pilots’ pay by an average of 60%. In addition, the airline plans to expand its services in the coming months, so further recruitment can be expected in the short term.
Reports suggest that the company increased the remuneration of its technical crew members significantly. It is now the operator that offers the highest pay for its pilots in the country. Moreover, the improvement in salaries represents a departure from the recent trend in the industry, which suffered from cuts and job losses as a result of the global downturn since the start of the pandemic.
However, the move can be expected to lead to wage increases in other airlines in the Indian market, one of the fastest growing and most promising in the world, in a context of a sustained recovery in aviation activity and good prospects for the near future.
From October, the starting monthly salary for a captain will be 5.673 dollars. A first officer will receive 2.269 dollars. Currently, their salaries are 3.517 and 1.399 dollars, respectively. The final pay will depend on the experience of each pilot and the number of flight hours logged each month, which may not exceed 70 in that period.
Getting ready to compete: attracting and retaining pilots
An attractive pay package helps attract more interested pilots and build a strong workforce to compete with the Tata Group, the industrial conglomerate that acquired Air India, as well as the other low-cost operators in the country. The new increase brings Akasa Air’s salaries above those of IndiGo, the leading airline in the low-cost segment.
In addition, the increase in the operating levels of Indian airlines expected in the coming months is coupled with the growing interest of Middle Eastern airlines in this market.
While Akasa Air’s business performance remains to be seen, the airline is sticking to its original expansion plan, announced prior to the launch of its operations. It reportedly plans to hire 350 pilots and cabin crew during 2023.
See also: Akasa Air completes its first scheduled commercial flight
