Salary for May: 3,000 AI pilots, cabin crew claim they got only 20%

They said 80% of their salary comprises flying allowances, which is yet to be paid

Though majority of Air India (AI) employees received their salaries for May on Tuesday, pilots and cabin crew members said they have received only 20% of their salaries so far.

For the past few months, AI has been inconsistent in crediting salaries.(HT file)

They said 80% of their salary comprises flying allowances, which is yet to be paid. Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) is planning to meet the airline management, which the pilots said has not given a date of paying remaining portion of the salary.

An AI official said the national carrier paid salaries on June 12. While other employees received their full pay, more than 3,000 pilots and cabin crew members received only their basic pay.

“Pilots and cabin crew form a crucial part of an airline. However, we are less in numbers when compared to the entire staff of Air India, which seems to be the reason of delaying payment of allowances,” said a senior pilot.  

For the past few months, AI has been inconsistent in crediting salaries. However, the delay has been longer this month. “The salaries have never been delayed till 12 of a month. Pilots and cabin crew have been facing additional issues of being paid their flying allowances days after basic salary is credited,” said a senior airline official. 

After reports featured in media about salary delay, the airline informed its employees on June 6 that their salaries were ‘likely’ to be credited on June 15. 

In the past, ICPA had written to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the airline chairperson and managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola about their grievances. A letter dated March 23, 2018, said payment of flying allowances were being delayed for the pat one year. The letter reads: “Being in a sensitive industry where the pilots are responsible for hundreds of lives, high priority should be placed to ensure the pilots are not undergoing fatigue and stress related issues in any form which is detrimental in performing their duties.”

In another letter to Kharola, on June 9, ICPA said May was the fourth consecutive month that the salaries were delayed.  AI spokesperson did not comment on the matter.