Airlines to hire 5,000 as aviation boom returns

Mumbai/New Delhi: Indian carriers will hire at least 5,000 professionals across categories this year — pilots, cabin crew and airport ground staff — buoyed by the recent boom in the aviation sector which saw high attrition and retrenchment after the onset of the downturn in 2008.
“Airlines had pulled out at least 20% capacity from the market during the downturn. That capacity was restored last year and we see airlines adding another 20% capacity this year and would be hiring 4,500-5,000 people this year,” said Kapil Kaul, CEO of aviation consultancy firm Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, South Asia.
The Indian aviation sector will grow by 18-20% this year, said aviation industry experts. Among airlines, national carrier Air India and low-cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet will add more than 1,000 this year. “Our flights will go up to 350 flights per day from 221 currently. We are in the process of hiring 200 pilots, 400-500 cabin crew and as many airport ground staff this year at IndiGo,” said Aditya Ghosh, president, IndiGo.
Demand for pilots is rising due to the dearth of professionals. Airlines are chasing expats as the aviation regulator has allowed foreign nationals to be employed as pilots till December 13, 2013.
“The fact today is that all airlines in India are asking for foreign pilots and no single agency can provide those many numbers. Airlines in India have asked all agencies that these pilots need to be recruited on an urgent basis,” said a person directly involved with hiring of expats, requesting anonymity.
In all, airlines are looking for about 230 commanders on an immediate basis , according to recruitment agencies. “We are looking to hire 500-600 pilots to meet the demand,” Jet’s chairman Naresh Goyal had stated recently.
GoAir, which plans to add 20 aircraft by 2014, will hire 250 people this year with 100 each for cabin crew and ground staff and 50 pilots.
17/01/11 Manisha Singhal & Anindya Upadhyay/Economic Times