Dhaka: In an overwhelming response to a recent advertisement campaign to hire more pilots, Indian flag carrier Air India received around 700 applications in the span of one week, said the airline on May 4.

Earlier, the carrier said it would hire around 1,000 pilots. Air India recently placed an unprecedented order for nearly 500 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The flag carrier is now looking for cabin crew and pilots to man these upcoming airframes, while also trying to implement significant reforms to existing policies.

Reports cited a spokesperson of the airline saying, “The recruitment of pilots is in preparation for the augmented large fleet of 470 aircraft. We have already received over 700 applications in the last few days as response to the advertisement which is under process. As continuation of this recruitment process, we are conducting walk in interviews in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.”

Seeing the response in the Delhi phase, AI extended the walk-in interviews to continue on May 5 as well.