Airlines

Air India Gives Salary Increments to Staff; Bonus for Pilots

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Air India announced on Thursday that it will implement annual salary increments for its staff and introduce an annual target performance bonus for pilots, according to sources. This marks the first appraisal process since the Tata Group took over the airline a little over two years ago.

Chief Human Resources Officer Ravindra Kumar GP revealed that salary increments will take effect from April 1, 2024. Additionally, performance bonus payouts for the fiscal year 2023-24 will be based on both company and individual performance, sources reported.

Pilots will see an increase in their fixed pay ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per month. They will also be eligible for an annual target performance bonus between ₹42,000 and ₹1.8 lakh, contingent on performance metrics.

Cabin crew members will also benefit from an annual performance bonus of approximately ₹25,000. Alongside this, they will receive a standard salary increase for the financial year 2025, effective from April.

Air India, which employs around 18,000 people, aims to foster growth and transformation, as stated by Kumar. The airline achieved significant milestones in the last financial year, laying a strong foundation for its future. As part of its Vihaan.AI initiative, the airline introduced a contemporary annual performance appraisal process known as “Rise AI” and transitioned to a simplified, market-competitive, and productivity-oriented compensation structure for employees.

However, it was noted that junior first officers will not receive a hike in their monthly fixed pay. Nevertheless, they will be eligible for an annual target performance bonus, with junior first officers receiving ₹42,000 and first officers and commanders receiving ₹60,000 per annum, provided they meet performance expectations.

Airlines

Federal Court Imposes $100M Fine on Qantas for “Ghost Flights” Scandal

In a major ruling, the Federal Court has confirmed a hefty A$100 million penalty against Qantas for its involvement in the “ghost flights” scandal. As reported by FlightGlobal.

The court found that Qantas misled consumers by offering and selling tickets for flights that the airline had already decided to cancel. Adding to the controversy, Qantas failed to promptly notify ticket holders about these cancellations.

The penalty follows Qantas’ admission of violating the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The airline agreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the penalty amount, aiming to deter Qantas and other businesses from similar breaches in the future.

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The ACCC emphasized that this substantial fine sends a clear message: misleading customers will lead to serious consequences, regardless of a company’s size. In addition to the penalty, Qantas has committed to paying approximately A$20 million to affected passengers who unknowingly purchased tickets for canceled flights.

This compensation comes on top of any refunds or alternative flight arrangements already provided. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb praised the penalty, underscoring the importance of robust compliance programs red energy qantas in large corporations like Qantas.

She pointed out that Qantas has since made changes to its operating and scheduling procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.