Tata Group-owned Air India is on the lookout for over 4,200 cabin crew and 900 pilots in 2023 as the airline adds new aircraft and rapidly expands its domestic and international operations.

Currently, Air India has around 1,600 pilots to operate its 113 aircraft fleet, and in recent times, there have been instances of ultra-long-haul flights getting cancelled or delayed due to shortage of crew.

The airline’s two subsidiaries – Air India Express and AirAsia India – together have around 850 pilots for flying their 54 planes, while joint venture Vistara has more than 600 pilots.

Earlier this month, Air India had announced a mega order to purchase 470 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus to support its growth plans. It has already announced plans to lease 36 aircraft, of which two B 777-200 LR have already joined the fleet.

“The cabin crew, who will be recruited from around the country, will undergo a 15-week programme, imparting safety and service skills, and will be coached to exemplify the best of Indian hospitality and Tata Group culture. The training programme will include extensive classroom and in-flight training at the airline’s training facility in Mumbai as well as familiarisation flights,” the airline has said in a statement.

Between May 2022 and February 2023, Air India has hired over 1,900 cabin crew. Over 1,100 cabin crew have been trained in the last seven months (between July 2022 and January 2023), and in the past three months, approximately 500 cabin crew have been released for flying by the airline.