Foreign pilots will be allowed to stay in India read more

Foreign pilots will be allowed to stay in India

India's aviation authorities have changed their minds about a policy that would have barred overseas pilots from working on India's commercial airlines.

The country, which has been trying to ensure work for its own pilot graduates, has recently seen a pick-up in passenger demand.

A one-year extension for removing an estimated 400 foreign pilots from its commercial airlines has been agreed to.

Foreign pilots were supposed to have been out of the aviation industry by the end of July to make room for an over-supply of young domestic pilots.

Jobs for 3,000 novice pilots who were awaiting vacancies on domestic carriers have now been largely filled.

Many Asian carriers which are being forced to ramp up capacity in response to passenger growth are also looking for more foreign pilots.