<p>IndiGo Airlines may lose a good chunk of its commanders to AirAsia India as around 100 of its pilots have applied for jobs with the proposed carrier, say sources.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Besides a hefty package that AirAsia India is offering to the pilots, there are other reasons, like better working conditions, for these pilots to move out, say Indigo sources.<br /><br />"As many as 100 commanders have sought jobs with AirAsia India. And this is not only for higher packages, but also for better working conditions," airline sources told PTI.<br /><br />A text message sent to the IndiGo spokesman did not yield any response.<br /><br />AirAsia, in collaboration with Tata Sons and Telestra TradePlace of Arun Bhatia, plans to launch a budget airline by the end of the year with its headquarters in Chennai.<br /><br />AirAsia is expected to bring in competitive pricing in the domestic aviation market with its "nano" airfares and may pose a direct competition to IndiGo, which is the undisputed leader in the low-cost segment now.<br /><br />Incidentally, both IndiGo and AirAsia, have Airbus operations.<br /><br />IndiGo currently has around 1,000 pilots to operate its fleet of 66 Airbus planes. Out of these, nearly 60 per cent of them are commanders.<br /><br />"An IndiGo commanders' average take-home salary is around Rs 3.20-3.30 lakh a month, which is below the industry level. As against this, AirAsia India is offering a take-home salary of Rs 4-4.20 lakh a month," sources said.</p>
<p>IndiGo Airlines may lose a good chunk of its commanders to AirAsia India as around 100 of its pilots have applied for jobs with the proposed carrier, say sources.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Besides a hefty package that AirAsia India is offering to the pilots, there are other reasons, like better working conditions, for these pilots to move out, say Indigo sources.<br /><br />"As many as 100 commanders have sought jobs with AirAsia India. And this is not only for higher packages, but also for better working conditions," airline sources told PTI.<br /><br />A text message sent to the IndiGo spokesman did not yield any response.<br /><br />AirAsia, in collaboration with Tata Sons and Telestra TradePlace of Arun Bhatia, plans to launch a budget airline by the end of the year with its headquarters in Chennai.<br /><br />AirAsia is expected to bring in competitive pricing in the domestic aviation market with its "nano" airfares and may pose a direct competition to IndiGo, which is the undisputed leader in the low-cost segment now.<br /><br />Incidentally, both IndiGo and AirAsia, have Airbus operations.<br /><br />IndiGo currently has around 1,000 pilots to operate its fleet of 66 Airbus planes. Out of these, nearly 60 per cent of them are commanders.<br /><br />"An IndiGo commanders' average take-home salary is around Rs 3.20-3.30 lakh a month, which is below the industry level. As against this, AirAsia India is offering a take-home salary of Rs 4-4.20 lakh a month," sources said.</p>