New Delhi: Pilots and non-flying employees of Air India, which is controlled by the Tata Group, can now retire at age 65, while non-flying employees can now retire at age 60. Both groups of workers used to retire at age 58.
Campbell Wilson, the CEO and MD of Air India, made the announcement at a recent internal town hall; however, the airline has not yet released an official circular. The modification aligns the airline’s pilot retirement policy with the highest age that commercial pilots are allowed to be under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Currently, Air India has over 24,000 employees, including about 9,500 cabin crew members and 3,600 pilots. Pilots’ service is extended by seven years, while non-flying staff members receive an extra two years due to the extension of the superannuation age. Reports suggest that the move may be made to allay the resentment of the Air India pilot community, who had expressed worries about different retirement regulations than those of Vistara.
According to reports, several pilots were unhappy with the difference in service tenure following Vistara’s merger with Air India in November 2024, since Vistara’s retirement policies permitted a longer flying career. After employees have received formal notice, the retirement age change is anticipated to go into effect.
