Air India Express looking to hire ex-IAF pilots

MUMBAI: Air India Express, the no-frills international arm of debt-laden Air India, has said it would soon ink an agreement with the Indian Air Force to train the pilots, besides netting the early IAF retirees into the airline as it struggles to get quality senior pilots.

"As we continue to face severe shortage of senior pilots, which is impacting our operations and hurting our growth, we have decided to join hands with the Air Force to get trained pilots from them," a top Air India Express official told PTI over phone from Kochi, where the airline is headquartered.

The official, requesting anonymity, also said, "As per the proposal, we will give first preference to ex-Indian Air Force pilots. We hope to hire at least 25 Indian Air Force personnel who take early retirement every year. The plan is also to get the Indian Air Force to help us train commercial pilots."