Airlines

Southwest Airlines lowers requirements for new pilots

An A320 plane flew for 28 minutes with both pilots asleep

In an effort to hire more pilots this year, Southwest Airlines Co. will cut the amount of prior flying experience required of candidates for the position by half.

Starting February 7, candidates would only need 500 hours of “turbine time,” as opposed to the 1,000 hours that were previously needed, the airline announced on Saturday. Southwest Airlines spokeswoman: “More highly-skilled aviators will have the option to pursue a career at Southwest Airlines as a result of the move, which was explained in a memo to pilots.

Frontier Airlines Hiring Candidates With No Flight Experience(Opens in a new browser tab)

Even while major airlines assert they have an abundance of pilots, the lower standards come amid a widespread industry chase for them. Regional airlines have been boosting salaries and providing other incentives as a result of the shortfall that has resulted.

According to Jordan, Southwest employed about 1,000 pilots in 2022 and has plans to hire over 1,700 more this year. As per him, the organization has a shortage of experienced pilots to operate aircraft due to various challenges with training capacity. But if the business does decide to bring on 1,700 more pilots this year, it would face fierce competition from other carriers.

The FAA’s 1,500-hour requirement for pilots to obtain their Air Transport Pilot certificate is not eliminated by Southwest’s criteria adjustment, but it does call for experience flying in jet or turboprop aircraft. Basically, this means that new Southwest hires will have had to fly for a regional airline, a freight company, or in some other professional role.

Southwest stated that their new hiring policies will continue to be in compliance with or exceeding FAA standards, adding that they “will continue to pick competitively-qualified, world-class aviators that demonstrate considerable flight experience, professionalism, and Southwest values.”

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Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

Soon, Air India aircraft will feature onboard WiFi & all-new cabins: Click here

“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

Air India’s First A350-900: Interior, Routes, &Inflight Features: Click here

This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.