Tata-owned Air India on Friday came out with its second voluntary retirement offer for its non-flying staff, after taking over the state-owned loss-making airline last year.

Around 2,100 of its present staff of 11,000 are reportedly eligible to apply for the offer, open till April 30.

The latest offer will be available for permanent general cadre officers who have attained the age of 40 years or above and completed a minimum of five years of continuous service at the airline, according to a communication.

Clerical and unskilled categories of employees who completed a minimum of five years of continuous service will also be eligible.

In June 2022, Air India launched its first VRS.

Some of the employees who had taken VRS at the first offer told The Telegraph that they were not provided with any formula but were given a lumpsum amount. The employees had the option to opt out of VRS.

“The employees who apply for voluntary retirement from 17th March 2023 to 30th April 2023 will also be provided with an ex-gratia amount as a onetime benefit. Eligible employees who apply up to 31st March 2023 will receive Rs 1 lakh over and above the ex-gratia amount,” the airline said.

In the first phase of the voluntary retirement offer, both flying and non-flying staff were covered. At that time, around 4,200 employees were eligible and out of them, around 1,500 people opted for the offer, the sources said.

Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer of Air India, in an internal communication, said, “Following last year's provision of Voluntary Retirement of permanent cabin crew, clerical and unskilled staff aged over 40, many of us have asked whether there will be another round, and whether it would be extended to other staff categories.”

“Today, we’re launching a second phase of voluntary retirement,” he said.

Summer flights

Indian carriers will operate a total of 22,907 weekly domestic flights during the summer schedule starting from March 26. The summer schedule is from March 26 to October 28.

As many as 11 airlines will be operating domestic services, with maximum weekly flights by IndiGo at 11,465.