Sahara staff apprehensive

Mumbai: For most employees of Air Sahara, the ‘bidaai’ from Sahara Parivar is hurting the head as well as the heart.
“Aviation industry may be desperate for trained professionals, but we are not sure about the conditions that Jet Airways will put on us. True, Air Sahara was in the red, but we were paid better than market rates. As professionals, we see the snapping of ties with Sahara as an amputation that is life saving, but heart wrenching as well,” says a commander with the merged airline. But the biggest surprise was the lack of solidarity among employees.
Pilots, who had taken a collective stand about their careers after the merger announcement in January 2006, were markedly individualistic in their reactions to Thursday’s deal.
“I have a few offers. I will see what Jet offers and then take a call. And with the present crunch for pilots in the industry, finding another job won’t be tough. It sure would be impossible to find employers like Sahara,” said a pilot who had left Indian Airlines to join Air Sahara when it was launched. Many of his younger colleagues have moved on to other airlines like Kingfisher and SpiceJet. Though financially weakened since its heydays, the Sahara Group is known to be a thoughtful employer. And that’s what most employees said they would miss.
12/04/07 Samy Abrata Ray Goswami/The Telegraph

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Categories: Air Sahara Apr 2007