Mumbai: Kingfisher Airlines has increased the salary of a section of its pilots, fearing an exodus to rival carriers. Airlines including SpiceJet and IndiGo are in an expansion mode and will be adding 29 planes this financial year, opening new job avenues for pilots.
Recently, Kingfisher Airlines made a Rs 100,000 increase in the salary of commanders on its ATR fleet, roughly 30 per cent more to their existing salary. The airline has 25 ATR-72 and two ATR-42 planes and operates them to tier-two cities. The ATR commanders are being paid a loyalty bonus of Rs 100,000 each month, in addition to the Rs 350,000 salary and flying allowance (approximate). Pilots on Airbus A330 and A320 planes are not receiving the loyalty bonus.
The loyalty bonus is offered because the airline management fears the ATR pilots will quit Kingfisher to join SpiceJet which is introducing Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes, an airline source said. In the past two years, 100 pilots have left Kingfisher, upset over lower salaries and slow pace of career progression.
“Earlier, first officers (co-pilots) on Airbus A320 aircraft having required qualification and experience were not being given command on the same aircraft but were moved as commanders to the ATR planes. This had caused resentment amongst pilots, many of whom who left the airline,’’ the source added.
21/04/11 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
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