In a significant boost to India–Singapore aviation cooperation, over 100 Air India pilots are set to join Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, under a structured deputation programme. This strategic initiative, part of the ongoing integration between Air India and Vistara under Tata Sons, comes as Singapore Airlines holds a 25.1% stake in the merged entity, marking a new era of operational synergy between the two nations’ carriers.
The deputation, scheduled for one to two years, will allow Indian pilots to gain global exposure by operating Embraer aircraft—a fleet type not currently available in Air India’s operations. The initiative addresses Scoot’s staffing requirements while offering valuable international experience and skill development for Indian pilots, enhancing their global competence and operational versatility.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson hailed the initiative as a “win-win”, emphasizing that it blends resource optimisation with professional growth. The programme aligns with Air India’s post-privatisation transformation strategy, which focuses on workforce rebuilding, global collaboration, and fleet modernization.
Singapore Airlines views the pilot exchange as a strategic expansion of its footprint in India, a crucial aviation market that saw over 2.4 million passengers travel between India and Singapore in FY2025. The programme is expected to pave the way for deeper collaboration in codeshare agreements, route planning, training, and eventually fleet and operational integration between Air India and Scoot.
Scoot stands to benefit substantially from this move, gaining access to experienced and qualified pilots quickly to support its Asia-Pacific expansion in the highly competitive low-cost carrier segment.
This deputation initiative reflects a larger trend of cross-border talent mobility in aviation and marks a forward-looking step in creating a seamlessly connected, future-ready aviation ecosystem between India and Southeast Asia.
