New Delhi (Agency): Air India has been on a hiring spree, recruiting 650 pilots since April this year, according to Campbell Wilson, the CEO of Air India. The airline is also expanding its Boeing 777 fleet to enhance its services, particularly on North American routes. All of this is happening at a time when the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation safety regulator, has temporarily suspended training at Air India facilities in Mumbai and Hyderabad due to safety concerns.
Air India’s Group Hiring Cell (GHC), which is the airline’s first integrated, cross-AOC (air operator certificate) and cross-functional teams, has been behind the large-scale hiring. “The Group Hiring Cell (GHC) has successfully recruited and onboarded more than 650 pilots since April 1,” Wilson said in a message to Air India employees. Recruitment is still ongoing, according to the CEO.
This recruitment drive is part of a larger expansion strategy by Air India. The airline’s Boeing 777 fleet is expected to grow, with two more B777s being added in the first week of this month. One of these aircraft is a 777-200LR, which will be primarily deployed on routes to North America, allowing Air India to offer more frequencies to San Francisco and New York and introduce a premium economy class. The other new addition is a B777-300ER, which will be used to increase capacity on other routes.
The expansion comes as a significant move for Air India, which also comprises its two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly known as AirAsia India). Last year, the airline announced plans to lease 11 B777s — six B777-300ER and five B777-200-LR, primarily for its North American routes.
However, these ambitious plans are clouded by concerns raised by the DGCA. The aviation regulator has temporarily halted all training at Air India’s Mumbai and Hyderabad facilities due to “lapses” found during a spot check. The Mumbai facility is primarily used for training Boeing fleet pilots, while the Hyderabad center is for Airbus A320 family fleet training.
The DGCA’s action puts a question mark on Air India’s aggressive expansion and hiring plans, especially when it comes to the training and safety of new pilots. While the airline is keen to scale up operations and offer better services, the suspension by the DGCA indicates that safety concerns should not be overlooked.