₹20,000 crore in FY22, about 44% more than the ₹13,853 crore loss a year ago. Given high-skill jobs are at stake, there’s a case for government support.
According to a reply in September 2020 from the civil aviation ministry to a Parliament question, the number of employees at airlines dropped by 5,298 from 74,887 to 69,589 between 31 March and 31 July 2020.
The drop was 3,246 (from 67,760 to 64,514) at airports and 3,016 (from 37,720 to 29,254) at ground handling agencies. Cargo operators reduced staff strength by 1,017 (from 9,555 to 8,538).
A total loss of 12,577 jobs at last count. The number is only likely to have climbed in the last 18 months. Direct financial support as compensation for lost revenues seems unlikely, given the fiscal constraints and competing demands on the Budget for relief from large sections of the economy, including the poor and vulnerable.