New Delhi
India’s leading airline Air India has taken a big and historic decision for its employees. The company has amended the age limit of retirement of other major staff including pilots. Now Air India pilots will be able to serve their services till the age of 65 instead of 58. The step has come out after the structural changes released within the company and the merger with Vistara.
Air India pilots will fly for 65 years
Earlier, the retirement age of pilots in Air India was 58 years, but after the company’s merger with Vistara, a new policy has been implemented to end this gap. Significantly, the service period of the pilots in Vistara was already up to 65 years. Now, this rule has been implemented in the entire Air India Group, which has increased directly by 7 years.
Relief for cabin crew and other staff
Retirement age has been changed for pilots as well as cabin crew and other employees. Now their service has been increased from 58 years to 60 years. This decision will affect thousands of employees who have been associated with Air India for a long time.
Air India currently has about 24,000 employees, including about 3,600 pilots and 9,500 cabin crew. According to sources, a plan is being considered to increase the service age of the cabin crew by 65 years as pilots.
DGCA also got green signal
Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said that the decision has been taken after the approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA has allowed pilots up to 65 years to operate commercial flights, giving Air India the official basis to move forward on this policy.
Vistara became a merger reason for change
According to experts, after the merger of Air India and Vistara, there was a difference in the service rules of the employees. This change in the retirement age of pilots was necessary to eliminate this conflict and implement a uniform policy. With this, the company will continue to get the benefit of pilots’ experience for a long time.
Questions arose after the accident
However, this decision came at a time when an Air India aircraft had to face a serious accident just two months ago. A few minutes after the flight take-off going from Ahmedabad to London, the accident fell victim, in which 265 passengers died. Initial investigation stated the pilot’s mistake as a reason. In such a situation, security related concerns have also come to light about increasing the age limit of pilots.
