Airlines industry salaries to shoot up by 30%; carriers scout for staff
Mumbai: The promise by
Jet Airways last month, to restore staff salaries that were slashed
during the downturn in 2008, is possibly the first sign that things are
looking up in the airlines industry . With Indian carriers expanding
operations and scouting the market for pilots, cabin crew and ground
staff, watchers say a 25-30% hike in pay from the current levels, may be
in the air.
"There is recovery in the sector, and we see a jump in salaries of about
25-30% from the current base levels,” says Kamal Karanth, MD of the
global staffing company Kelly Services India. Moreover, ancillary
airlines businesses are also likely to throw up many new job
opportunities relating to the maintenance, repair and overhaul of
aircraft.
After two years in a slump, the numbers are finally stacking up for
Indian aviation. Airlines flew 520.21 lakh passengers last year — up
18.7% from 2009. This year, they are tipped to exhibit a 20% growth.
This will translate into airlines hiring between 4,500-5,000 staffers
across categories this year as they add 20% to their carrying capacity.
Government estimates suggest that on an average, every carrier in India
will also add 30-40 aircraft per year over the next seven or eight years
to its existing fleet, thereby creating more positions in terms of
cabin crew and ground staff.
Airlines are trying to restore salaries to 2008 levels. "Since business
is now generating cash, we need to put pressure on managements to
restore salaries,” says a senior Jet Airways pilot. "While it will take
time for this to happen, the salaries of new hires and expats have gone
through the roof.”
Adds Rahul Goyal, president of HR consulting firm MaFoi Randstad: "There
will be a 30-40% jump in the salaries of ground operators. Pilots will
get the top slot in salaries.”
Even so, pilots will not have reason to cheer. With a dearth of senior
Indian commanders, airlines, in a hurry to staff are looking at
expatriate pilots. They don’t come cheap; on an average, they make
one-and-a-half times more than a senior Indian commander with a private
airlines, who gets Rs 5.5 lakh per month. With more foreigners willing
to join Indian carriers, airlines are now spoilt for choice. 04/02/11 Manisha Singhal/
Economic Times
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