Air India pilots face mandatory shift to Air India Express for command upgrades

Air India will require senior first officers seeking command roles to transfer to Air India Express under a new framework based on a common seniority pool, sources said. The move aims to boost Boeing 737 commanders as more aircraft join the fleet. Pilots receive a Rs 10 lakh bonus and must serve at an Air India Express base for at least two years. The plan has drawn reservations from some pilots amid intense industry competition.