Air India Cuts 180 Jobs, Citing Specific Reasons

Tata Group's Air India has recently let go of over 180 employees who weren't able to make use of offered voluntary retirement plans or re-skilling programs, according to a report by PTI. The airline explained that the decisions for Air India’s layoff were made after carefully considering what the company needs and how well each employee's skills matched up. Over the last year and a half, Air India has been evaluating its staff, offering several chances for employees to choose voluntary retirement or improve their skills through re-training.

Despite these efforts, about 1% of Air India's workforce found themselves out of the loop, resulting in their layoffs. The company assures that it is fulfilling all its promises and contracts with these employees. While the exact details weren’t officially disclosed, reports suggest it's just over 180.

When the Tata Group took over Air India in January 2022, the airline had a large workforce due to its combination with Air India Express. Initially, all employees were guaranteed job security for a year following the privatisation agreement. Since then, more than 2,500 employees have left the company through voluntary retirement.

The Tata Air India employee layoff is part of Air India's broader strategy, Vihaan.AI, aiming to streamline operations and support growth. The move comes as Air India, under Tata's leadership, has seen a significant increase in flight operations, especially internationally, with the launch of 24 new international routes. This expansion reflects the airline's focus on tapping into the more profitable international market, even as it navigates strong competition domestically, especially from leading carrier IndiGo.