Emirates Airline has announced plans to recruit nearly 20,000 operational staff by the end of the decade as part of a major fleet and network expansion. The hiring initiative is tied to the delivery of new aircraft, which will be deployed to both new destinations and existing routes to increase flight frequency.

Adel Al Redha, deputy president and chief operations officer at Emirates, said during a media briefing in Dubai that the recruitment will focus on a range of operational roles, including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, technicians, and airport staff. The 20,000 figure applies specifically to operational positions, with additional hires planned in IT, administration, and other support functions.

Emirates accepts applications from both domestic and international candidates. While the airline runs internal training programmes, these do not fully meet the staffing demand, prompting the broader recruitment drive.

The airline also operates special initiatives to hire Emirati nationals in engineering, cabin crew, IT, and management roles. Currently, the intake capacity for Emiratis in cabin crew and engineering is around 120 per year, but Emirates intends to increase this number over time. Similar programmes exist for IT and management positions, with graduates deployed across the network in managerial roles.

The recruitment push is linked to fleet growth, including the expected delivery of 17 Airbus A350 aircraft this year and Boeing 777X aircraft beginning in 2027. Emirates will also launch hiring for a seat manufacturing unit in Dubai, operated as a joint venture with Safran. Despite regional challenges affecting some European carriers, Emirates continues to operate at full capacity with strong demand across its routes.

Akasa Air has resumed hiring pilots after a pause of nearly 18 months, following improvements in aircraft delivery timelines from Boeing. The hiring restart comes as the budget airline prepares to expand its fleet in the coming weeks.

The airline currently operates 32 aircraft and expects to add two more by the end of February 2026, taking its total fleet size to 34 aircraft, subject to deliveries proceeding as scheduled.

According to statements made by Akasa Air Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube, the airline is in a stable financial position and currently employs around 750 pilots operating a fleet of 33 aircraft. He indicated that this represents a healthy pilot-to-aircraft ratio by industry standards, with pilots maintaining regular flying schedules. The airline is also preparing for a potential initial public offering (IPO).

The renewed hiring follows a challenging period last year when Akasa Air faced operational disruptions linked to pilot availability. Despite having close to 800 pilots at the time, the airline experienced flight cancellations and compliance-related issues with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), highlighting gaps between staffing levels and operational readiness.

With aircraft deliveries expected to stabilise and fleet growth back on schedule, the airline has moved to strengthen its pilot workforce to support future operations.

Separately, Akasa Air recently introduced redesigned uniforms for its ground services staff as part of a broader brand refresh. The new uniforms, created by fashion designer Rajesh Pratap Singh, emphasise comfort, functionality and sustainability, aligning with the airline’s contemporary brand identity.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced plans to develop its largest delivery centre in Brazil, with a new campus coming up in Londrina, in the state of Paraná. The project involves an initial investment of USD 37 million (approximately BRL 200 million) and is scheduled for completion by 2027.

According to the company, the new facility is expected to generate more than 1,600 jobs and function as a key delivery and innovation hub supporting clients across Brazil and the wider Latin America region. The investment represents one of TCS’ largest commitments in Latin America to date.

The announcement was made during an event held at Palácio Iguaçu, attended by the Governor of Paraná, Carlos Roberto Massa Júnior (Ratinho Júnior), and Bruno Rocha, Country Head of TCS Brazil.

Governor Ratinho Júnior said the investment would strengthen Paraná’s position as a growing technology services hub, citing the state’s public education infrastructure and focus on training in programming and artificial intelligence. He also highlighted the presence of an extensive public university network with increasing emphasis on technology-oriented disciplines.

Bruno Rocha stated that the new campus reflects TCS’ long-term strategy for Brazil and Latin America, adding that the facility is intended to support digital transformation initiatives for clients while contributing to local economic development and employment.

The 9,000-square-metre campus will include three newly constructed buildings and is designed to meet LEED Gold sustainability standards. It will bring together TCS’ existing operations in Londrina and allow for future expansion. The centre will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and cloud technologies, including platforms from Google, AWS, SAP, and Microsoft.

As part of its broader AI-led approach, TCS has established AI labs in its Londrina operations and introduced its global “tcsAI Fridays” programme to encourage AI adoption and skill development. TCS has been operating in Brazil for over 20 years and continues to expand its footprint across Latin America.

Deloitte is planning a significant expansion of its workforce in India, with the professional services firm aiming to add approximately 50,000 employees over the next few years, according to a senior company executive.

The expansion would take Deloitte’s headcount in India beyond its current strength of around 1,40,000 employees, further strengthening the country’s role in the firm’s global operations.

The plan was outlined by Romal Shetty, CEO, Deloitte South Asia, during his address at TiEcon Mangaluru 2026, held on 16 January.

India already accounts for a substantial share of Deloitte’s global workforce. At present, about one in four Deloitte professionals worldwide is based in the country. The firm has set an internal goal of increasing this proportion to one-third of its global workforce within the next three years, reflecting both the scale of available talent and the expanding scope of work being delivered from India.

As part of this growth strategy, Deloitte is also reviewing its geographic footprint. While major metropolitan centres remain important, the firm is increasingly focusing on Tier-II and Tier-III cities to support future hiring and operations.

Cities including Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Lucknow, Indore and Jaipur are already part of Deloitte’s expansion plans. Mangaluru is also under evaluation as a potential location, driven by the availability of engineering and medical talent in the region.

Shetty noted that India hosts nearly half of the world’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs), creating opportunities for faster and more integrated growth. To support this ecosystem, Deloitte is exploring concepts such as digital economic zones, which would bring together infrastructure, academic institutions, startups and data capabilities to reduce setup timelines.

In parallel, Deloitte continues to pursue acquisitions and partnerships with startups to strengthen its presence in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and space technologies, with India expected to play a central role in the firm’s next phase of growth.

Infosys continued its steady talent expansion in the December quarter, adding over 5,000 employees and taking its total workforce to 3,37,034. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of net hiring, highlighting the company’s consistent approach to building talent even as global clients remain cautious on technology spending.

Over the past three quarters, Infosys has hired more than 13,000 employees, standing out in India’s IT services sector where many peers are slowing recruitment or trimming staff. The company attributes the continued growth in headcount to strong demand visibility in specific sectors and geographies where client spending remains stable.

Employee retention also improved, with the trailing twelve-month attrition rate declining to 12.3%, down from 14.3% in the previous quarter. The trend reflects stronger retention at a time when external opportunities in the tech industry have softened.

Fresh graduate hiring remains a priority. Infosys has already onboarded around 18,000 freshers and expects to reach close to 20,000 campus hires by the end of the current financial year, preparing for future demand despite uneven near-term conditions.

The hiring momentum comes alongside mixed financial performance. Infosys reported a modest year-on-year decline in net profit for the December quarter due to a one-time charge linked to labour regulations, while revenue growth remained healthy, supported by strong deal wins and stable execution.

With cooling attrition and continued hiring, Infosys appears well-positioned for gradual demand improvement, maintaining a cautious yet confident outlook in an uncertain global environment.