Air India plans single pay structure, common seniority list for pilots

Air India’s management has proposed a single simplified salary structure and a common master seniority list for 3,100 pilots across Tata airlines, as the group begins the process of the integration of four carriers.

These were among the proposals put forth at separate town hall meetings with pilots of Air India and Vistara on Thursday. The meetings were addressed by Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan, and senior pilots and HR heads of the two airlines. They were joined by an executive from consulting firm BCG, which is advising the Tata group airlines on integration.

As a part of the integration, Vistara would be merged into Air India to create a single full-service airline. AIX Connect (AirAsia India) would get merged with Air India Express and serve as no-frill airline in the domestic and international markets. Currently, the Tata group airlines have a combined fleet of 218 aircraft. Another 470 aircraft are on order and would be delivered over the next 7-10 years.

At Thursday's meetings, pilots were informed that there would be a single-simplified salary structure based on scope of operations. Rapid fleet and network growth would also create significant opportunities across bases.

A single master seniority list would be used for career progression. Pilots were also told that lateral hiring would be minimised and internal promotions would be encouraged. A career path would be created for command opportunities on wide-body aircraft for all the pilots.

The management said the induction of planes and setting up of an in-house training centre would also create opportunities for instructor roles. The training centre is planned to have over 20 full-flight simulators, 150 classrooms, and mock-up training infrastructure with AR/VR facilities.

At present, Air India has the largest pilot strength of 1,500 among group airlines. Vistara has 800 pilots while AIX Connect and Air India Express have around 400 pilots each. Last week, Air India said it would hire 900 pilots in 2023 to support the expansion plan.

Air India did not respond to an email query on the topic.

Pilots are yet to get full clarity on the management’s proposals. “What exactly will be the criteria for fixing a single seniority list in all four airlines,” a pilot remarked.

Air India was unable to create a single seniority list of pilots after merging with Indian Airlines in 2007 as pilots from both sides bickered on the issue.

“The management has also said unified policies for staff travel and other benefits will be shared by March-end. These are matters of service regulations and should be discussed with unions before implementation," another senior captain remarked.

On the runway

• Lateral hiring will be minimised and internal promotions will be encouraged
• Career path will be created for command opportunities on wide-body aircraft for all pilots
• In-house training centre will be set up; it will have over 20 full-flight simulators, 150 classrooms, and mock-up training infrastructure with AR/VR facilities