100 Air India pilots to be offered the chance to work on Scoot flights

SINGAPORE: Around 100 Air India pilots will be given opportunities for work with Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost brand, the Hindu Business Line reported on Jun 8 (Sunday). Campbell Wilson, Air India’s CEO and managing director, has called the programme a win-win for both Air India and Scoot.

The programme will be on a voluntary basis and will allow Scoot to fill vacancies. At the same time, Air India’s captains and first officers will have the opportunity to train on Embraer aircraft and gain international exposure.

“Air India pilots have been offered deputation to Scoot (Singapore Airlines’ low-cost airline) on a voluntary basis. Here, they will also have the opportunity to train on Embraer 19 and Boeing 787s, the budget airline flies,” tweeted Indian aviation journalist Jagriti Chandra late last month.

“We actively seek talent within and outside Singapore, focusing on attracting and retaining qualified individuals who align with our values and can contribute to Scoot’s continued growth,” Hindu Business Line quoted Scoot as saying.

Mr Wilson joined Air India in 2022, after 26 years with Singapore Airlines. He had served as CEO of Scoot from 2011 to 2016 and again from 2020 to 2022.

The CEO of Singapore Airlines, Goh Choon Phong, also spoke to Hindu Business Line, saying, “Indian market continues to be strong, and we are optimistic about it. We are looking at how to collaborate closely with Air India.”

Last year, Singapore Airlines carried more than 2.4 million travelers to and from India, with 65% of traffic flying onward or connecting from Singapore to India.

The partnership between Singapore Airlines and Air India is not a new one. In November 2022, the Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group announced that its airlines, Vistara and Air India, would merge, making it the country’s largest international carrier and second-largest domestic carrier.

Vistara is a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines, established in 2013. The Indian conglomerate owns 51%, and SIA owns 49%.

Following the completion of the merger between Air India and Vistara last year, it was reported that Singapore Airlines (SIA) held a 25.1% stake in the merged entity.

“Singapore Airlines (SIA) confirms the completion of the merger of Air India and Vistara. With this, SIA now holds a 25.1% stake in Air India. The merger reinforces SIA’s multi-hub strategy and underscores its long-standing commitment to India through a direct stake in this large and rapidly growing aviation market,” SIA said in a statement at the time. /TISG

Read also: SIA & Tata Sons celebrate Air India-Vistara merger