AI employs more pilots than IndiGo despite smaller fleet

AIR INDIA, DESPITE operating just 181 aircraft, has more pilots on its rolls than IndiGo, which manages a much larger fleet of 430 aircraft.

- YARUQHULLAH KHAN & AKBAR MERCHANT

The imbalance, highlighted in data presented in Parliament on Monday, reflects differing operational requirements rather than disproportionate hiring practices, experts said.The gap stems primarily from the types of aircraft each airline flies. Air India currently operates 63 wide-body aircraft, which require significantly larger flight crews. Unlike single-aisle aircraft such as IndiGo’s Airbus A320 fleet — which typically need one captain and one first officer per flight — wide-body aircraft used for long-haul operations need