Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 29: Akasa Air is planning to increase pilot salaries by up to 20 per cent, raise minimum guaranteed monthly flying hours to 50 and extend annual leave entitlement as the four-year-old airline expands its fleet and route network. The proposed changes are expected to take effect from January 1, 2027, according to sources.

The proposed revision includes increases in both fixed salaries and hourly pay. The minimum guaranteed flying hours will be raised to 50 per month, ensuring pilots receive payment for those hours even if they do not fly the full duration.

The airline also plans to increase the minimum annual leave entitlement for pilots to 42 days. Pilots will have the option to choose work patterns such as ‘25/9’, which provides 25 working days followed by nine days off, and ‘6-2-6-3’, which allows two days off after six working days, followed by another six working days and three days off.

In addition to the proposed salary and leave changes, pilots will benefit from loyalty rewards and the previously announced Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), aimed at encouraging long-term association with the airline.

Akasa Air, which commenced operations in August 2022, currently operates a fleet of 45 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and employs more than 800 pilots. The airline plans to add more aircraft and routes and establish new pilot bases in Kochi and Kolkata. Its existing main bases are in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

As part of its expansion in Rajasthan, the airline launched daily direct flights connecting Jaipur with Mumbai and Bengaluru from October 11. It also began operations from Udaipur on October 15 to strengthen air connectivity in the state.