Six major Indian airlines have together employed 13,989 pilots, Parliament was informed on December 8, 2025. Air India counts 6,350 pilots while its low-cost arm, Air India Express, has 1,592. IndiGo employs 5,085 cockpit crew. Other airlines include Akasa with 466 pilots, SpiceJet with 385, and government-run Alliance Air with 111 pilots. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said pilot employment depends on market demand. Airlines sometimes hire foreign pilots to meet specific fleet needs and operational timelines. Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) in India are upgrading their aircraft fleets regularly. Till November 2025, DGCA facilitated induction of 61 training aircraft. Two new FTOs were approved this year. Currently, India has 40 FTOs operating at 62 locations. The ministry does not interfere in flying school expansions, which are market-driven. However, as an ICAO member, DGCA aligns training rules with international standards. "DGCA regularly assesses the quality and adequacy of flying training through robust regulatory framework," said Mr. Mohol. Safety standards are continuously monitored by DGCA through annual surveillance, special audits, and spot checks whenever necessary.