Air India’s pilots will soon see their overall pay slashed by up to 30 per cent, compared to what they were getting earlier, well-placed government sources said.
The pilots are getting flying allowances as part of overall pay, and these account for about 70 to 80 per cent of their overall earnings. Last year the government, after announcing that it was abolishing productivity-linked incentives for Air India employees, said it would put up a note to the Cabinet for flying allowances for certain sections of the staff like pilots, engineers and cabin crew only as per market norms. The government found that the pilots were being paid above market norms.
A source said: “The overall wages of pilots are expected to be reduced by up to 30 per cent compared to what they were getting earlier as they were paid flying allowances above market norms. The reduction is expected be the highest for pilots flying on international routes.”
A few days ago the government paid 75 per cent of the flying allowance arrears to pilots after domestic union pilots (Indian Airlines) threatened to call a strike.