Air India to reinstate employees' salaries to pre-pandemic levels

New Delhi: Airlines Air India is going to reinstate the pre-pandemic salaries of its employees in a phased manner, as the aviation industry is bouncing back to business gradually, PTI reported citing an official document published on Tuesday.

The industry was harshly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, which stood large for the last two years, leading airlines companies to cut salaries. The Tuesday document stated that pilots' flying allowance, special pay and wide-body allowance were cut by 35 per cent, 40 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively, after the pandemic broke out. While Cabin crew members' flying allowance and wide-body allowance were cut by 15 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, during the peak of the pandemic.

Now, on April 1 this year, flying allowance, special pay and wide-body allowance of pilots are being reinstated by 20 per cent, 25 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. Flying allowance and wide-body allowance of cabin crew members are being restored by ten and five per cent, respectively, the document stated.

Further, allowances for officers and other staff members were cut by 50 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively. While Officer's allowances were restored by 25 per cent and other staff members' pre-pandemic levels, effective from April 1.

The document also said that the gross emoluments for Indian employees based in foreign locations were cut by 10 per cent at a maximum of USD 300. These were restored by 5 per cent at a maximum of 150 USD.

Likewise, India-based officers' officers and other staff members were cut by 50 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, to the maximum of USD 300then. It has been restored by USD 150 from April 1.