After nearly 15 years of flying for a global major in South-East Asia, Biju Mathew (name changed to protect privacy) found himself without a job in August 2020. The airline laid off all its foreign pilots as COVID-19 brought air travel to a standstill. He decided to return to his homeland and obtain an Indian licence. Three years on, he still doesn’t have an Indian flying permit. In July, his original employer offered him his job back. “I had to swallow my pride and return,” he says. He still wants to be in India, where the aviation industry is the fastest growing in the world, expanding at almost 10% over the last decade, 2.5 times the global average.
Indian pilots working for foreign carriers say they would like to be closer home, despite a higher salary and perks abroad. They remember the job discrimination they faced because of their foreign nationality, in the aftermath of COVID-19. But obtaining a new Indian licence or renewing a lapsed one is “too dreadful”. The paperwork just to appear for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA’s) exams can take up to a year. Many pilots have found it easier to obtain a permit for another foreign country and shift from countries like Singapore to Qatar.
Also Read | Pilot fatigue in India, a wake-up call for airlines
