As traffic rises, airlines start restoring pre-Covid salaries

New Delhi, April 15

With air traffic limping back to normality, airlines have started restoring salaries of their employees. Air India, now owned by the Tata group, has announced a phased restoration of remuneration to pre-pandemic levels.

The Indian aviation sector was badly hit due to the pandemic-induced travel restrictions during the past two years and this led to all airlines in the country to cut salaries of their employees.

Revised allowances

From April 1, flying allowance, special pay and wide body allowance of pilots are being restored by 20-25%.

According to officials, with the onset of the pandemic-induced restriction Air India pilots’ flying allowance, special pay and wide body allowance were cut by 35-40 per cent.

From April 1 this year, flying allowance, special pay and wide body allowances of pilots are being restored by 20-25 per cent, they said.

Cabin crew members’ flying allowance and wide body allowance were cut by 15 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, but now from April 1 these are being restored 10 and five per cent, respectively, they said.

SpiceJet, the low-cost carrier, has hiked the salary of its captains by 10 per cent and for first officers by 15 per cent, sources said quoting the airline’s internal communication. This increment in salary shall be effective from March, they added.