Air India is restoring pay to pre-pandemic levels
NEW DELHI: Air India is restoring salaries of employees in a phased manner to pre-pandemic levels as the aviation sector is recovering with the decline of Covid-19 cases in the country, according to the airline’s official document.
All the components of salaries of employees will be restored to their pre-pandemic levels on April 1 next year, it said.
The Indian aviation sector was badly hit by the restrictions imposed over the last two years to contain the spread of coronavirus. Airlines in India had thus reduced salaries.
Flying allowance, special pay, and wide body allowance of pilots were reduced by 35%, 40%, and 40%, respectively, after the onset of the pandemic, the Air India document said.
From April 1 this year, flying allowance, special pay and wide body allowance of pilots are being restored by 20%, 25%, and 25%, respectively, it said.
The flying allowance and wide body allowance of cabin crew members were reduced by 15% and 20%, respectively, during the peak of the pandemic, the airline noted. These are being restored by 10% and 5%, respectively, from April 1, it said.
The allowances given to officers and other staff members were cut by 50% and 30%, respectively, during the pandemic, it said. The allowances of officers are being restored by 25% from April 1, while that of other staff members are being restored to pre-pandemic level from April 1, it noted.
Gross emoluments given to Indian employees who are based at foreign locations were reduced by 10% to a maximum of $300 during the pandemic, it said. These gross emoluments are being restored by 5% to a maximum of $150, it noted.
Similarly, India-based officers’ gross emoluments were cut by $300 during the pandemic and are being restored by $150 from April 1, it mentioned.
“As the hope of a post-pandemic world seems within reach and the aviation sector takes off once again with some visible changes in our performance, we are happy to inform you that your salary cuts have been reviewed and the restoration of salaries will happen in a phased manner,” the document said.
This comes against the backdrop of India recording 949 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 4,30,39,972, while the active cases rose to 11,191, according to the Union health ministry data updated Friday.