13,989 Pilots Employed By 6 Major Airlines, Says Centre Amid IndiGo Chaos

At a time when the aviation sector is under the spotlight due to widespread flight disruptions caused by IndiGo’s operational crisis, the Centre on Monday informed Parliament that six major domestic airlines currently employ 13,989 pilots.

Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol informs Parliament that six major airlines collectively employ 13,989 pilots, with Air India leading the workforce.

According to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express together have the largest pilot workforce — 6,350 and 1,592 pilots respectively. IndiGo, the country’s biggest airline by market share, employs 5,085 cockpit crew.

Among other carriers, Akasa Air employs 466 pilots and SpiceJet has 385, while government-run Alliance Air employs 111 pilots, Mohol said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister added that the rate of employment of qualified pilots depends on market dynamics, especially expansions and manpower demands.

Foreign Pilots and Fleet Expansion

Mohol said airlines hire foreign pilots primarily to meet type-rating requirements and operational timelines when expanding fleets.

He also stated that Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) are continuously upgrading their aircraft, with the DGCA facilitating the induction of 61 training aircraft as of November 2025. Two new FTOs have been approved this year.

India’s Pilot Training Capacity

India currently has 40 FTOs operating across 62 bases, Mohol informed. He added that the modernisation of pilot-training infrastructure is market-driven, and the civil aviation ministry does not intervene in their commercial decisions.

However, as an ICAO member, India aligns its training and regulatory framework with global Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). The DGCA monitors FTOs through annual surveillance plans, special safety audits and spot inspections wherever required.