Tie-up to ensure more jobs

Airlines are coming up with new ideas for cutting down their costs and introducing in-flight training activities. Air Deccan on Wednesday announced an exclusive tie-up with Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training. This implies that pass-out students from Frankfinn will be inducted as Air Deccan's cabin crew.

The alliance also guarantees Air Deccan an easy availability of skilled cabin crew, keeping in mind the acute shortage of trained human resource in this sector. Frankfinn, in turn, will be able to guarantee as many as 400 placements as cabin crew each year for a period of two years.

Speaking at the event, K S Kohli, Chairman, Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, said, “India is projected to be the fastest growing country in terms of annual worldwide commercial passengers resulting in a demand for cabin crew which is seven to ten times higher than the current availability. With 65 centres across India, the tie-up will ensure a guaranteed availability of skilled crew to Air Deccan.”

At present, an average of 30 trained crew members are required by an airline per aircraft. At the current pace of growth, with the collective industry fleet strength expected to reach 900 from the present 350 by 2009, the Indian aviation industry would require 7,500-8,000 cabin crew per year.

Speaking at the event, Captain G R Gopinath, Managing Director, Air Deccan, said, “Air Deccan recruits and trains the finest manpower in the Indian skies. Our cabin crew belong to different parts of the country, come from varied backgrounds and form an important component of Air Deccan's expanding operations. They are impeccably trained and equipped to ensure passengers' safety and comfort.”

Air Deccan will also provide on-board live training to all Frankfinn students. The contents of the in-flight training will be pre-decided by Air Deccan and students will undergo two flights as per roster. They will be trained by Air Deccan and will be awarded a BTEC Higher National Certificate. 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also confirms that by 2010, travel within Asia will become largest with 678 million passengers compared to 552 million in the US domestic market. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has confirmed that the market share for low cost airlines in India will reach 70 per cent by 2010 making it one of the world's leading LCC (Low Cost Carriers) markets in terms of total market penetration.

With the consequent fleet expansion that Air Deccan, as the leading player in the segment, is expected to look at, availability of flight and cabin crew will emerge as one of the most critical components of the growth plan.