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Air India to add 25 aircraft, hire 1000 pilots for AI-Express

EAW Staff - Kochi

Air India (AI) has decided to replace leased aircraft of its budget carrier AI-Express with completely owned fleet. It is also on the lookout for recruiting more manpower.

"As many as four aircraft wil be purchased in 2007 itself to expand the budget flight services," AI chairman and managing director, V Thulasidas told reporters.

This will mean AI-Express doubling its fleet to 25 aircraft by next year. Out of the 13 that the budget-carrier operates now, seven are on lease. Within 90 days, AI-Express will start daily service connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, AI-Express officials said.

Pilot-training was also high in priority. AI needs at least 1000 pilots in the coming years, according to Thulasidas. Through campus placement, engineering graduates will be picked up for pilot-training. AI has also signed an MoU with the Indian Air Force to faciliate hiring of retired IAF pilots, he added.

Asked of the status on AI's aircraft maintainance hub in Thiruvananthapuram, Thulasidas said that it will be completed in 18 months of officially beginning work. "And the work will start, when the urgency of the hangar facility presents itself," he added. AI-Express expects to net Rs 1000 crore revenue during the current financial ear, plying a million passengers." Last year, AI-Express had earned Rs 690 crore revenue on 7.5 lakh passengers.