Akasa Air Raises Pilots’ Salaries Amidst Airline Expansion Plans and Order Surge

Akasa Air has implemented a salary increase of up to 40 percent for its pilots, while other airlines like Air India and IndiGo are pursuing extensive expansion strategies with orders for hundreds of new aircraft. The enhanced pilot salaries at Akasa Air will take effect from July onwards. According to an internal memo obtained by The Economic Times, senior first officers at the airline, backed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, will receive ₹3.40 lakh per month compared to the current ₹2.75 lakhs per month.

Everything About the Akasa Air Pilots’ Salaries Hike

Senior captains, starting from July, will earn ₹6.25 lakh per month, up from the current ₹5.75 lakhs per month. The actual pay could be even higher based on a pilot’s experience and flying hours. A captain can earn a maximum of ₹7.75 lakhs per month for flying 60 hours, representing a 6 percent increase from the current ₹7.28 lakhs per month. As a component of the updated payment framework, Akasa Air will also modify its fixed pay hours, reducing them from 45 to 40 hours.

This means that pilots will receive a higher fixed salary for flying 40 hours compared to their earnings for flying 45 hours. In addition, captains will earn ₹7,500 and first officers will receive ₹3,045 for every extra hour flown. This adjustment was made in response to pilots’ feedback that their monthly take-home salary was affected due to the airline’s smaller size, resulting in an inability to fly the expected number of hours. These details were reported by The Economic Times, citing insider sources.

A knowledgeable source mentioned that the salary increase for junior pilots is more substantial because they represent the future of the airline, and Akasa Air intends to retain them as they progress to become commanders. This salary offering for Boeing 737 pilots is considered the best in the industry at present.

Akasa Air has been rapidly recruiting pilots since Go First, owned by the Wadia Group, suspended its operations in May. The airline has also expedited the process of promoting first officers to captains, with a monthly increase of approximately 30 percent. With this development, Akasa Air becomes the third airline to announce salary hikes, following Tata Group’s Air India, which increased salaries by 20 percent in April, and SpiceJet, which announced a salary increase in May.

IndiGo and Air India have placed record-breaking aircraft orders. Recently, IndiGo revealed a massive deal with Airbus for 500 aircraft. Earlier this year, Air India, owned by the Tata Group, announced an extensive order for 470 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. The order comprises a total of 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, 10 wide-body aircraft of the Boeing 777-9 model, 210 Airbus A320/321 neos, and 190 narrow-body planes from Boeing, specifically the Boeing 737 MAX.