According to industry sources, Air India would need more than 6,500 pilots to fly 470 planes supplied by Airbus and Boeing over the next few years. The airline has placed orders for the acquisition of a total of 840 aircraft, with an option to purchase additional 370 aircraft, in an effort to expand both its fleet and operations. This is one of any airline’s largest aircraft orders.
There are currently 1,600 pilots working for Air India to fly its 113 aircraft, but there have recently been incidents of ultra-long distance flights being cancelled or delayed due to a staff shortage.
For flying their 54 planes, the airline’s two subsidiaries, Air India Express and AirAsia India, together have about 850 pilots, while the joint venture Vistara has more than 600. 53 aircraft make up the latter’s fleet, one of the individuals told PTI.
A Maharaja’s fleet of Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, and AirAsia India’s total fleet of 220 aircraft is flown by a little more than 3,000 pilots. The most recent solid order from Airbus includes 40 A350-900/1000 and 210 A320/321 Neo/XLR. 20 787s, 10 777s, and 190 737-Max aircraft are included in the firm Boeing deal.
These 40 A350 will mostly be used by Air India on its ultra-long-haul flights, which may last up to 16 hours.
According to the insider in the know, the airline will need 30 pilots—15 commanders and 15 first officers—per aircraft, or 1,200 pilots for the A350s alone.
One flight requires 26 pilots, according to the source.
Boeing 777. If the airline adds 10 of these aircraft, it will need 260 pilots; if it adds 20 Boeing 787, it would need about 400 pilots because each Boeing 787 requires 20 pilots: 10 commanders and 10 first officers. A total of 660 pilots will be needed for the induction of 30 wide-body Boeing 777, according to the sources.
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