Over 20 Air India pilots plan to quit

New Delhi, September 3

More than 20 pilots of Air India's Dreamliner fleet are planning to leave the national carrier as many of them seek greener pastures with private airlines.

The development comes at a time when the debt-laden Air India is looking to stem exodus of pilots and has already put in place a system to recover the training cost in case a pilot leaves the airline within five years.

A senior Air India official said more than 20 pilots of its Dreamliner fleet have expressed their intention to quit and some of them have given notices.

However, the notices are yet to be accepted by the carrier, he added.

Many pilots are looking to join private airlines where the service terms are better most of the times.

Air India currently has 21 Dreamliners in its fleet and has so far trained 250 pilots, including those from the single-aisle planes, to enable them to fly these aircraft, since 2012.

PM voices concern over high airfares during festive seasons

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over steep rise in airfares during festive seasons, following which the Civil Aviation Ministry is looking at ways to curb such instances. There have been instances of airlines hiking price of air tickets during festival seasons when more people travel.

According to a senior ministry official, Prime Minister has expressed concern over price of air tickets going up during festive seasons and has asked "whether there is a way to handle it (the issue)". The ministry is looking at various options to address the issue, the official said even as he noted that regulating airfares would not be a way out. PTI