Airline selectionsASIA
Air India
Air India pilot selection

The Air India pilot selection phase by phase, with open positions and practice for every part.

PilotinQEditorial team · updated 11 Oct 2026
Phases3

About Air India

Air India is a full-service airline based in India. It flies under the IATA code AI and ICAO code AIC. Its hubs are Delhi (DEL), Bengaluru (BLR) and Mumbai (BOM). Its fleet includes the Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A321neo and 4 other types. Linked to Air India on this site: Air India Cadet Pilot Programme and Air India Express.

For future pilots, Air India offers the Air India Cadet Pilot Programme. Programme partner: Air India Flying Academy (Amravati) and two Air India partner schools in the United States. On 28 October 2026 the programme was listed as closed. Air India also recruits licensed pilots as direct-entry first officers and captains. The link to the pilot careers portal is in the profile on this page. This page sets out the selection in 3 stages.

The three phases

3/3
Simulator check
FLIGHT SCHOOLS

Where to train for Air India

One flight school has a published link with this airline. Each entry says what the link is and who states it.
Airline links show where a school has a published tie with the airline. Each airline runs its own selection.

Air India at a glance

IATA / ICAO
AI / AIC1
Country
India
Hubs
Delhi (DEL), Bengaluru (BLR), Mumbai (BOM)1
Fleet
Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-92
Cadet programme
Air India Cadet Pilot Programme (closed as of 28 Oct 2026)6
Direct entry
First officers, Captains5
GROUP AIRLINES, ACADEMIES AND PROGRAMMESAir India Cadet Pilot Programme · selection guideAir India Express · selection guide
Pilot careers siteCadet programme pageOfficial website
SELECTION3 selection stages described below.Air India practice plan
SALARYSenior commander: Rs 8.3 lakh per month (about 55 flying hours) (pay after the August 2026 rise, 2026)First officer: Rs 3.3 lakh per month (about 55 flying hours) (pay after the August 2026 rise, 2026)Senior commander: around Rs 7 lakh per month (40 hours) to around Rs 8.9 lakh (70 hours) (internal document reported by The Economic Times, 2026)Air India pilot salary
PILOT JOBSNo open positions listed right now.All pilot jobs
SOURCES
  1. 1Wikipedia: Air India · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  2. 2Wikipedia: Air India fleet · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  3. 3Air India Career Opportunities · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  4. 4Air India Pilot Career Opportunities · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  5. 5Air India Pilot Career Program: Pilot Recruitment · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  6. 6Air India Cadet Pilot Program: Your Path to the Skies · accessed 10 Oct 2026
  7. 7Air India Group Trainee Pilot Programme · accessed 10 Oct 2026
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AIRLINE SELECTION · ASIA
Air India

Air India pilot selection

PilotinQEditorial team · 11 Oct 2026Start the free lite test

About Air India

Air India is a full-service airline based in India. It flies under the IATA code AI and ICAO code AIC. Its hubs are Delhi (DEL), Bengaluru (BLR) and Mumbai (BOM). Its fleet includes the Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A321neo and 4 other types. Linked to Air India on this site: Air India Cadet Pilot Programme and Air India Express.

For future pilots, Air India offers the Air India Cadet Pilot Programme. Programme partner: Air India Flying Academy (Amravati) and two Air India partner schools in the United States. On 28 October 2026 the programme was listed as closed. Air India also recruits licensed pilots as direct-entry first officers and captains. The link to the pilot careers portal is in the profile on this page. This page sets out the selection in 3 stages.

THE THREE PHASES
1Written psychometric assessment
2Personal interview
3Simulator check
FLIGHT SCHOOLS

Where to train for Air India

One flight school has a published link with this airline. Each entry says what the link is and who states it.
Airline links show where a school has a published tie with the airline. Each airline runs its own selection.

Air India at a glance

IATA / ICAO
AI / AIC1
Country
India
Hubs
Delhi (DEL), Bengaluru (BLR), Mumbai (BOM)1
Fleet
Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-92
Cadet programme
Air India Cadet Pilot Programme (closed as of 28 Oct 2026)6
Direct entry
First officers, Captains5
GROUP AIRLINES, ACADEMIES AND PROGRAMMESAir India Cadet Pilot Programme · selection guideAir India Express · selection guide
Pilot careers siteCadet programme pageOfficial website
SELECTION3 selection stages described below.Air India practice plan
SALARYSenior commander: Rs 8.3 lakh per month (about 55 flying hours) (pay after the August 2026 rise, 2026)First officer: Rs 3.3 lakh per month (about 55 flying hours) (pay after the August 2026 rise, 2026)Senior commander: around Rs 7 lakh per month (40 hours) to around Rs 8.9 lakh (70 hours) (internal document reported by The Economic Times, 2026)Air India pilot salary
PILOT JOBSNo open positions listed right now.All pilot jobs
SOURCES
  1. 1Wikipedia: Air India · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  2. 2Wikipedia: Air India fleet · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  3. 3Air India Career Opportunities · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  4. 4Air India Pilot Career Opportunities · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  5. 5Air India Pilot Career Program: Pilot Recruitment · accessed 11 Oct 2026
  6. 6Air India Cadet Pilot Program: Your Path to the Skies · accessed 10 Oct 2026
  7. 7Air India Group Trainee Pilot Programme · accessed 10 Oct 2026
YOUR FLIGHT PLANA plan to your selection dateA week-by-week plan to your selection date: a lite test to find your weak spot, focused practice per phase, then a full mock.Make my flight plan
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