In a move that underscores the intensifying competition for cockpit talent in India’s aviation market, Air India today announced an immediate hiring drive for pilots rated on the Airbus A320 family—just three days after IndiGo received a temporary relaxation from the government on Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.
The timing of Air India’s recruitment push is striking. IndiGo, the country’s largest airline by market share, is currently under pressure to quickly scale up its pilot pool to meet new FDTL requirements aimed at improving crew fatigue management.
Although IndiGo has secured short-term relief from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the relaxation is temporary, and the carrier must still prepare for full compliance in the coming months.
Industry watchers note that Air India’s move could intensify the talent crunch. With both airlines operating extensive A320 family fleets, qualified pilots are in high demand.
Air India, now in the midst of a multi-year transformation under the Tata Group, has been aggressively expanding its operations and strengthening its pilot pipeline.
Air India Group stated on December 8 that it is inviting applications from experienced A320 pilots in command (pilot who is qualified to be captain) with a minimum of 100 (PIC) hours on the A320 family aircraft. “Preference shall be given to candidates who are available to join immediately,” the advertisement stated.
The fresh recruitment may give the former flag carrier an opportunity to attract type-rated pilots (those qualified to operate a particular type of aircraft) who are reconsidering their options amid IndiGo’s staffing pressures.
For IndiGo, the DGCA’s temporary relaxation offers short-term breathing room, but it does little to diminish its long-term challenge: meeting regulatory norms while maintaining its aggressive growth trajectory.
The airline has one of the largest order books in the world, and pilot availability will play a pivotal role in its ability to deploy incoming aircraft.
As Air India ramps up its hiring and IndiGo races to expand its crew strength, the scramble for skilled pilots is expected to intensify further—potentially reshaping the dynamics of India’s aviation labor market in the months ahead.
Ending months of freeze, IndiGo started hiring senior first officers for its Airbus A320 fleet on the day it secured a temporary waiver from the regulator from compliance with the new FDTL norms.
The Pilots' body Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) had alleged that IndiGo had adopted a ‘hiring freeze’ despite knowing that the new norms will entail expansion of the pilot pool.
On December 5, the ministry of civil aviation placed the new norms in abeyance with immediate effect for IndiGo until February 10, 2026. This came after well over 1000 flights were cancelled in a single day on December 5, the highest in the airlines’ history.
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