New Delhi
In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said that Indian airlines collectively employ 11,394 pilots, of whom 1,871 are women.
Among domestic carriers, IndiGo has the highest number of pilots. The airline employs a total of 5,200 pilots, including 970 women, making it the largest employer of pilots in the country.
Air India ranks second with 3,123 pilots on its rolls, including 508 female pilots, according to the data presented by the minister.
Other carriers also employ a significant number of pilots. Air India Express has 1,820 pilots, including 234 women, while Akasa Air employs 761 pilots, of whom 76 are women.
Meanwhile, SpiceJet has 375 pilots, including 58 female pilots, and Alliance Air employs 115 pilots, of whom 25 are women.
The government also shared details regarding foreign pilots working with Indian carriers. According to the data, Alliance Air employs 15 foreign pilots, Air India Express has hired 48 foreign pilots, while IndiGo has 29 foreign pilots currently working with the airline.
The pilot-to-aircraft ratio varies across airlines. SpiceJet has the highest ratio with 9.4 pilots per aircraft, followed by Akasa Air at 9.33 and Air India at 9.1 pilots per aircraft.
Air India Express has a pilot-to-aircraft ratio of 8.8, while IndiGo’s ratio stands at 7.6 pilots per aircraft. Alliance Air has the lowest ratio among the major airlines with six pilots per aircraft.
The government said the figures provide an overview of the current pilot workforce across major Indian airlines and reflect the distribution of aviation professionals within the country’s rapidly expanding civil aviation sector.