India, Aug. 8 -- Air India pilots who are eligible and want to become commanders on narrow- and wide-body planes will be compulsorily required to shift to Air India Express, with the Tata Group-owned loss-making airline putting in place a new framework based on a common seniority pool, according to sources.

Under the framework, senior First Officers (FOs)shifting to Air India Express for narrow-body Boeing 737 planes will be given a one-time bonus of Rs 10 lakh and the existing commanders of these aircraft at Air India Express will be paid Rs 21 lakh over three years, the sources said.

Upon getting the commandership, the sources said such pilots will be required to be at the operating base chosen by Air India Express for at least two ye...