Jet fights to shape up JetLite

New Delhi: Jet Airways is facing a tough time to turn around Air Sahara, after acquiring it for $340 million around three months back.
While a part of the difficulties lies in the poor condition of Air Sahara’s fleet, a different work culture of Sahara employees is only adding to the problems, according to Garry Kingshott, CEO of JetLite (new name of Air Sahara).
For Kingshott, the primary focus is on issues like revamping the condition of poorly kept fleet and jets grounded for years and make employees fit into Jet Airways’ vision of a professionally-managed airline.
To deal with all these and put the airline back on track, the Australian CEO has charted out a turnaround roadmap and started working towards this goal. To start with, JetLite has retained only 2,300 of Air Sahara’s 4,100 employees who it felt could fit into Jet’s vision of ontime passenger-friendly performance.
Then, it is also going to lease up to 15 planes till 2009, before deliveries of the previously ordered 10 Boeing 737s begin.
Sahara had a fleet of 24 leased aircraft, 17 Boeing 737s and seven Canadian Regional Jets (CRJs). ‘‘When Jet acquired the airline, only 10 737s and two CRJs were flying. Obviously the fleet was not in a terrific condition. ..Today 15 Boeings and three CRJs are flying. By October-end, we expect a majority of the fleet back in air,’’ Kingshott said.
Pilots now have to report an hour before departure time instead of earlier 45 minutes.
20/08/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Jet Lite Aug 2007