Opportunities for Young Pilots’ in India – Indigo Starts a Fresh Round of Hiring

India’s aviation industry is surging, creating exceptional growth prospects for aspiring pilots. Robust expansion, dozens of new airports, and record-breaking aircraft orders signal an era of opportunity across the country in 2025 and beyond. Record Demand: An Unparalleled Decade for New Pilots India will need over 1,500–2,000 new pilots annually for the next ten years, and the total need may top 30,000 in the next 15–20 years due to the surge in airline expansion and new aircraft arrivals. Recent projections show more than 7,000 pilots are required between 2024–2026 alone, reflecting India’s role as the world’s fastest-growing aviation market. For new pilots, this creates jobs both in established airlines and emerging carriers, regional routes, and even international postings as global demand for skilled aviators rises. Fleet Expansion: Aircraft Orders at Record Highs Indian airlines, led by IndiGo and Air India, are making historic aircraft purchases. Air India has ordered 570 planes (including 470 in one order in 2023 and another 100 in late 2024), split between Airbus and Boeing, to modernize and expand their fleet as part of a massive transformation effort. IndiGo itself has nearly 1,000 aircraft on order, including both narrow- and wide-body jets, while Akasa, and Spicejet have all increased their orders.
Airline Total Aircraft Orders (approx) Latest Major Orders
Air India 570 470 (2023), 100 (2024)
IndiGo Nearly 1,000 New A350-900, A321XLR
Akasa, Spicejet, Star Air Hundreds in total Consistent expansions
  Airport Infrastructure Boom The number of airports in India is set to soar, boosting regional connectivity and career options for pilots. By 2030, at least 50 new airports are planned, with modern facilities in both tier-1 cities (like the new Noida and Navi Mumbai International Airports opening in October 2025) and smaller cities via the UDAN scheme. These additions will alleviate congestion, offer more flight options, and support airlines in their expansion. Among recent milestones:
  • Navi Mumbai and Noida airports are operational from October 2025, transforming the aviation landscape of Mumbai and Delhi.
  • Over 600 new routes have been launched under the UDAN regional connectivity plan, bringing air travel to smaller towns.
  • The airport count is expected to increase by at least 50 in the next five years.
Salary and Career Prospects New pilots can expect monthly starting salaries from ₹1.5 to ₹3 lakh, with significantly higher pay for captains and experienced professionals. There are job opportunities not just in big carriers but also in regional airlines, cargo, and charter operations, as well as scope for Indian-trained pilots abroad due to a global pilot shortage. Etihad is looking to hire several 100 pilots’ from Oct 3-5 in New Delhi. Last few months have been quite for the hiring of fresh pilots’. But Indigo is now increasing intake of new pilots’ in iFly with fresh batches every month. This surplus was created due to the new contracts for pilots’ which had suddenly increased pilot availability. Now the surplus is over and new aircraft have started rolling in to India. Recovery of P&W engines have also increased aircraft availability. I would strongly advise new pilots’ to be ready for a fresh round of hiring in a few months. Those who are waiting at various stages of their training should be prepared to be called at short notice. Key Growth Drivers
  • Rising domestic and international passenger traffic, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
  • Ambitious government infrastructure plans and investment in aviation.
  • Historic aircraft orders by Indian carriers, ensuring steady aviation sector expansion.
  • Global pilot shortages create international pathways for Indian pilots.
What Sets New Pilots Apart Due to this demand, airlines increasingly value new pilots who demonstrate:
  • Strong communication and CRM (crew resource management) skill
  • Solid technical training and good ground training knowledge
Airlines are looking to hire a mix of Cadet program students and fresh industry pilots’ to meet the burgeoning demand. Get trained from institutes like Narain Aviation which doesn’t focus on merely  passing DGCA exams but prepares you for airline interview from Day One. Conclusion For new pilots, 2025–2035 represents a golden era—marked by high hiring, progressive opportunities, and industry transformation. Those entering the profession now can expect enviable career growth, robust compensation, and access to the latest in global aviation technology.