CHENNAI:The Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), one of Air India pilots' union, on Saturday urged the national carrier's management to hire just Boeing 777 (B-777) rated co-pilots on short-term contracts instead of hiring Captains who come at a high cost. According to the IPG, if Air India plans to procure more B-777 aircraft to fill the vacuum created by the failure of a private airline (Jet Airways), it is understandable to hire co-pilots on short-term basis. It is also an opportune moment for Air India to look at hiring of those Captains it had dismissed in 2012, he added. He said the Captains of Jet Airways may be drawing a salary of about ₹7 lakh per month. According to him, the IPG is not opposed to Air India taking over Jet Airways aircrafts and staff, on a need basis, so that the airlines get back its lucrative routes.

Source: Mint April 20, 2019 15:11 UTC