Budget 2018: Airlines want lower tax burden on pilots to stop 'brain drain'

Carriers are currently bearing the tax expense of pilots leading to higher expenditure

Higher salaries and tax-free income from West Asian and southeastern airlines have for long snatched pilots away from Indian carriers. Now, a surcharge levied by the Indian government on high-income individuals is proving to be a burden. Airlines now hope that the upcoming budget will give them relief.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, in the last budget, had proposed to increase the surcharge on income tax for individuals with a total income of over Rs 10 million from 12 per cent to 15 per cent. Commanders of Indian airlines normally fall under the Rs 10 million salary