വിമാനങ്ങളുടെയും റൂട്ടുകളുടെയും എണ്ണം വർദ്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി ആകാശ എയർ പൈലറ്റുമാർക്ക് 2027 ജനുവരി മുതൽ 20 ശതമാനം വരെ ശമ്പള വർദ്ധനവ് നൽകുന്നു. കൂടാതെ, പ്രതിമാസ ഫ്ലൈയിംഗ് സമയം, വാർഷിക അവധി എന്നിവയിലും വർദ്ധനവുണ്ടാകും. പൈലറ്റുമാരുടെ തൊഴിൽ-ജീവിത സന്തുലിതാവസ്ഥ മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതിനായി പുതിയ വർക്ക് പാറ്റേണുകളും ലോയൽറ്റി റിവാർഡുകളും കമ്പനി ഏർപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്
Akasa Air will increase pilots' salaries by up to 20 per cent from January 1, 2027, while raising guaranteed monthly flying hours and annual leave entitlements as the airline expands its fleet and route network, according to a PTI report.
The revised compensation structure will include higher fixed salaries and hourly payouts, while pilots will also have more choices in their work schedules. The changes are aimed at improving work-life balance as the airline scales up its operations.
Akasa Air hikes pilot pay
The four-year-old airline will introduce the following changes from January 2027:
* Salary hike: Fixed salaries and hourly payouts will increase, with hikes of up to 20 per cent
* Minimum protected flying hours: The monthly minimum will rise to 50 hours under the standard work pattern
* Annual leave: Minimum annual leave entitlements will increase to 42 days, with the possibility of more leave depending on the work pattern selected
* Additional benefits: Pilots will also be eligible for loyalty rewards and the previously announced Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), over and above the revised compensation
Minimum protected flying hours refer to the number of hours for which pilots receive guaranteed pay each month, even if their actual flying hours are lower.
New work patterns for pilots
Akasa Air will offer pilots additional choices in their work schedules, including the '25/9' and '6-2-6-3-6' patterns.
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Under the 25/9 arrangement, pilots will work for 25 days and receive nine guaranteed days off in a month. The 6-2-6-3-6 pattern, meanwhile, involves six days of work followed by two days off, then six working days and three days off, before another six-day work period.
The revised arrangements are intended to give pilots greater flexibility in managing their schedules and personal commitments.
Fleet expansion and new pilot bases
The changes come as Akasa Air prepares to expand its fleet and add more routes. The airline currently operates 45 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and has more than 800 pilots.
Akasa Air is also planning to establish pilot bases in Kochi and Kolkata, adding to its existing bases in Bengaluru and Mumbai. These plans form part of its broader expansion as it increases its operational capacity.
The airline began commercial operations in August 2022 and is now entering its fifth year of operations.
Pilot welfare in focus
The changes come amid renewed debate over pilot availability and fatigue in aviation sector. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the deadline for full implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms to March 31, 2027, while pilots' associations have raised concerns over the implementation timeline.
The revised FDTL norms mandate 48 hours of weekly rest for pilots, up from 36 hours, and place tighter restrictions on night operations to address fatigue.
Akasa Air's Director of Flight Operations, Captain Sanket Limaye, informed pilots about the revisions during an internal meeting on Wednesday, according to the report. The airline had not issued a comment on the changes at the time of reporting.