Having just announced a mega order for almost 500 new aircraft, Air India is now looking for personnel to support its ambitious growth plans. The airline is planning to hire 4200 cabin crew and 900 pilots throughout the year. 

Having already hired 1900 cabin crew and 285 since April 2022. Of them, over 1000 cabin crew have already undergone the training. Now, the airline plans to accelerate its recruitment by hiring 4200 cabin crew trainees and 900 pilots in 2023.  

The cabin crew will undergo a 15-week training program. Besides providing flight attendants with safety and service skills, the program also includes coaching “to exemplify the best of Indian hospitality and Tata group culture”, according to the airline’s statement. The program includes classroom and in-flight training at the airline’s training facility in Mumbai as well as familiarization flights. 

“With a sizeable aircraft order that was announced earlier in the month, more flights on international and domestic networks, and re-alignment of domestic routes with AIX connect, cabin crew will play a decisive role in shaping the present and future of the Air India group,” said Sandeep Verma, Head – Inflight Services, in the statement. “Addition of fresh talent will also accelerate the pace of cultural transformation at Air India, which is an integral part of our Vihaan.AI transformation program”. 

The airline also plans to accelerate its pilots and maintenance engineers’ recruitment.  

Air India expects to induct into service 470 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft during the next decade.  During the Aero India 2023 air show, which took place between February 13 and 17, 2023, in Bengaluru, Air India confirmed its mega-order for 250 Airbus planes. According to the first reports, this order would include 40 A350 wide bodies and 210 single-aisle A320-family aircraft. In addition, the Indian airline plans to add 220 Boeing jets.