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Air India Express Faces Pilot Exodus, Safety Worries
1 Sep
Summary
- Pilot attrition linked to pay, reduced benefits, and poor working conditions.
- Three serious operational incidents occurred in 2026 on the airline's fleets.
- ALPA India urges closer scrutiny amid pilot retention and experience concerns.
An open letter to Tata Sons chairman Noel Tata reveals growing concerns from ALPA India regarding the departure of experienced pilots from Air India Express. The pilots' body attributes this attrition to remuneration not keeping pace with expectations, reduced benefits, and a decline in quality of life and working conditions. Experienced pilots are vital for safety, bringing essential operational judgment and institutional memory.
ALPA India also raised flags about pilots transitioning between Airbus and Boeing fleets, emphasizing the need for robust training and careful management of cockpit experience. The association pointed to three significant operational occurrences in 2026: a hard landing in Phuket involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8 in March, a tail strike during a go-around in Bengaluru on an Airbus A321 in May, and an in-flight control event on a flight from Phuket to Delhi in August.
While not directly attributing these incidents to pilot experience, ALPA India stated that the concentration of such occurrences warrants deeper scrutiny. This is particularly relevant against the backdrop of losing experienced cockpit crew and ongoing concerns about pilot retention and working conditions within the organization.
