India’s major domestic airlines currently have a total of 11,394 pilots, including 1,871 women, as disclosed in Parliament. IndiGo leads with 5,200 pilots, including 970 women, while Air India follows with 3,123 pilots, including 508 women. Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Alliance Air also contribute significantly to the pilot workforce in the country.
The data also reveals the employment of foreign pilots by Indian airlines, with Alliance Air, Air India Express, and IndiGo having foreign pilots on their teams. The pilot-to-aircraft ratio varies among airlines, with SpiceJet having the highest ratio at 9.4 pilots per aircraft. The government highlighted these figures to showcase the distribution of pilots in India’s aviation sector.
Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) proposed stricter regulations for foreign airlines operating in India. These regulations include digital registration, enhanced legal responsibility for local representatives, and the establishment of a formal passenger grievance reporting system. The move aims to bolster the oversight of foreign airlines by the civil aviation regulator.
