Air India (AI) is the flag carrier of India and one of the country’s most historic airlines.
Now under the Tata Group, the airline has been going through a major transformation with new aircraft orders, fleet modernisation, and expansion plans across domestic and international markets. Air India operates aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family, A350, Boeing 777, 787 Dreamliner, and other types.
Behind the scenes, Air India Engineering is responsible for maintaining this growing fleet safely and efficiently. As the airline expands, Aircraft Engineers and Technicians are becoming increasingly important to day-to-day operations.
For many aviation professionals in India, joining Air India as an Aircraft Engineer or Technician is seen as a respected career path, especially because of the airline’s renewed growth and long-term opportunities.
What Do Aircraft Engineers and Technicians Do?
Although both roles work in maintenance, there is a clear difference in responsibility and authority.
Aircraft Engineer
An Aircraft Engineer is a licensed professional authorised to certify that an aircraft is safe to return to service under DGCA regulations.
Typical duties include:
- Carrying out scheduled and unscheduled maintenance
- Diagnosing faults in aircraft systems
- Supervising technicians and junior staff
- Signing off the aircraft after maintenance checks
- Ensuring compliance with aviation safety regulations
In layman language, no aircraft legally returns to service without an engineer’s approval.
Aircraft Technician
Technicians focus more on practical, hands-on maintenance work and support engineers.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Replacing aircraft parts and components
- Assisting with inspections and troubleshooting
- Routine servicing and repairs
- Working on engines, hydraulics, avionics, and electrical systems
- Maintaining tools, records, and safety procedures
They are the backbone of daily line and base maintenance operations.
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Requirements to Join Air India as an Engineer or Technician
Getting into Air India Engineering can be competitive, especially with the airline’s recent expansion.
Basic Requirements
- Diploma, AME qualification, or degree in aircraft maintenance/engineering
- Strong technical understanding of aircraft systems
- Good English communication skills
- Ability to work shifts, nights, and weekends
For Aircraft Engineers
- DGCA CAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence
- Type rating on aircraft such as A320, B777, B787, or A350 preferred
- Several years of practical maintenance experience
- Ability to certify aircraft as airworthy
Without a DGCA licence, certifying engineer roles are generally not possible.
For Aircraft Technicians
- Diploma or vocational training in aviation maintenance
- Practical maintenance experience preferred
- Strong hands-on technical skills
- Willingness to progress toward licensing
Many technicians aim to eventually become licensed engineers.
Air India Aircraft Engineer and Technician Salary in 2026
When it comes to salaries at Air India, pay has improved in recent years as the airline rebuilds under Tata ownership. While salaries are generally lower than those of Gulf carriers, the scale of growth and future opportunities make the airline attractive for many Indian aviation professionals.
Starting with Aircraft Engineers, most licensed engineers at Air India tend to earn somewhere in the region of ₹9.5 lakh to ₹18 lakh per year, based on recent employee salary reports.
For entry to mid-level engineers, this usually works out to around ₹80,000 to ₹1.2 lakh per month, depending on experience, licence category, and aircraft type ratings. Engineers working on larger fleets such as Boeing 777s, 787s, or newer Airbus aircraft may command stronger packages.
More experienced certifying engineers, particularly those with many years of service or specialised fleet experience, can earn around ₹1.3 lakh to ₹1.8 lakh per month, and sometimes more in senior positions or with additional allowances. On an annual basis, that places many senior engineers in the ₹16 lakh to ₹22 lakh+ bracket, depending on structure and benefits.
On the technician side, salaries are naturally lower but still steady for the Indian market.
Aircraft Maintenance Technicians at Air India are commonly reported in the range of ₹2.4 lakh to ₹7 lakh per year, depending on experience and role.
Entry-level technicians often begin around ₹20,000 to ₹35,000 per month, especially if newly hired or early in their careers. With a few years of experience, technicians usually move closer to the ₹35,000 to ₹50,000 per month range.
More experienced technicians, especially those in line maintenance or specialised technical teams, may earn around ₹50,000 to ₹65,000 per month, and occasionally higher depending on location and overtime.
However, moving beyond this level usually requires transitioning into a licensed engineer role, which remains the biggest jump in both salary and responsibility.
Overall, the pay gap between the two roles is quite clear.
- Aircraft Engineers: roughly ₹10 lakh to ₹22 lakh+ per year
- Aircraft Technicians: roughly ₹2.5 lakh to ₹7 lakh per year
Because of this, many technicians focus on gaining licences and experience so they can progress into engineering positions over time.
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Benefits and Perks at Air India Engineering
One of the advantages of working at Air India is the broader long-term package, especially as the airline expands.
Typical benefits include:
- Travel concessions and discounted tickets
- Medical benefits in eligible roles
- Paid annual leave
- Provident fund/retirement benefits
- Overtime opportunities in some positions
- Training and type-rating opportunities
- Career progression within a growing airline group
These benefits can add meaningful value beyond basic salary.
Bottom Line
Working as an Aircraft Engineer or Technician at Air India in 2026 offers a respected and increasingly promising aviation career path. While pay is generally below that of Gulf carriers or some Western airlines, the airline’s expansion and fleet renewal create strong long-term opportunities.
Licensed engineers earn significantly more, often crossing ₹1 lakh per month, while technicians usually remain in the ₹25,000 to ₹60,000 monthly range depending on experience.
The route upward is clear – technicians who gain DGCA licences can move into engineer roles and see a major increase in both earnings and responsibility. For aviation professionals wanting to grow with India’s national carrier during a transformation phase, Air India remains an appealing option.
Air India Engineers and Technicians Salary FAQs
An engineer is licensed to certify aircraft as airworthy and sign off maintenance work, while a technician performs hands-on maintenance tasks under supervision and usually does not hold certification authority.
Yes. Many technicians progress into engineer roles by obtaining a DGCA CAR-66 licence, gaining aircraft experience, and completing the required approvals.
Engineers with multiple licence categories, widebody aircraft type ratings such as Boeing 777 or 787, and senior certifying responsibilities usually earn the highest salaries.
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