Air India Express Increased IndiGo’s Tension: The new move of Air India Express has increased the restlessness of Indigo which is making the passengers cry. IndiGo fears that this step taken by Air India Express may create new challenges. Actually, Air India Group’s low-cost airline Air India Express (AI Express) has issued an advertisement for the recruitment of Airbus A320 captains. After this advertisement came in the public domain, the stir among the pilots in IndiGo and the tension among the airline management has increased.
Let us tell you that Air India Express has taken this step at a time when IndiGo is struggling with its internal rostering and operational challenges. Recently, after the start of IndiGo crisis, many such open letters have come, which have especially made known the restlessness of the pilots and cabin crew of IndiGo. In such a situation, Air India Express can strengthen its capacity by attracting unhappy and experienced pilots of Indigo, but this strategy has increased the feeling of anxiety and insecurity among the A320 pilots of Air India Express.
Pilots are afraid of their salary being reduced
AI-Express’s A-320 pilots say their fleet’s flying hours are already low. In such a situation, if new pilots are brought from outside, their flying hours may decrease, which will have a direct impact on their salary. Till now, about 100 pilots have written letters to the management protesting against this proposed recruitment. It is noteworthy that at present AI-Express has a total of 110 planes, of which 76 are of Boeing 737 and 34 are of A-320 family. These planes have come to the airline from Air India and Air Asia.
All airlines have reduced flying hours
According to sources, out of 35 planes of A320, 10 planes will be returned on lease early next year. There will definitely be entry of new A320 planes, but it will take time. In this interval, pilots will be able to get only a minimum of 40 hours of flying. During the Covid period, the then AirAsia India had reduced the fixed flying hours contract of pilots from 70 hours to 40 hours. Later, Air India also took the same step. Vistara was the only airline which, despite the salary cut, did not reduce fixed hour contracts.
Angry pilots asked questions to the management
Recently, Indigo has also reduced the fixed contract for new Junior First Officers from 70 hours to 50 hours. At present, AI-Express employs around 1,600 pilots and the A320 cadre is particularly angry. Questions have been raised in the letters written by the pilots that when it is being said for the last one year that A320 captains are in surplus, then why recruitment is being done from outside now. He also asked why internal utilization is low and many pilots have recently resigned, why attention is not being given to retention and re-engagement first.
