According to an internal message, Air India, which is controlled by the Tata Group, has offered to re-hire pilots after they retire for a five-year period as the airline seeks operational stability amid rumours of acquiring 300 single-aisle aircraft.
A senior official said the airline has sought the consent of retired pilots for such a job.
The communication has been sent to the pilots who retired up to three years back, the official said.
This occurs at the same time that the full-service carrier launched a voluntary retirement programme for its staff, including cabin crew, and at the same time that it began hiring new personnel for the once state-controlled carrier.
Compared to other important roles like cabin personnel and aircraft maintenance engineers, pilots are an airline's most expensive asset and earn the most money.
Additionally, the domestic aviation business has traditionally struggled with a lack of qualified pilots.
Tata Group took control of Air India on January 27 this year after successfully winning the bid for the airline in October last year.
