Domestic airlines poach expats

New Delhi: With carriers such as Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines all set to battle it out on international routes, leading expatriates with years of experience in global airlines are now being wooed for top management posts.
Jet Airways, the private airline with clearance for flying abroad, has roped in 14 expatriates from major foreign carriers.
The company was able to woo five senior management executives from Singapore Airlines - one of their key competitors, especially in the south-east Asian market.
Besides, three executives have left Gulf Air, a region that has recently been opened up for Indian private carriers, for the company. Jet started operations to West Asia in January this year.
Kingfisher boasts of five expatriates on its advisory board, out of which two are from Cathay Pacific and one from KLM Royal Dutch Airline.
Indian carriers usually have to offer executives a hike of 30-40 per cent on the previously drawn salary.
A lack of trained personnel in engineering and operations has also forced airlines to appoint expats as operational heads, albeit at a premium.
Carriers such as SpiceJet, Simplifly Deccan and IndiGO have expats heading their engineering and technical departments.
26/02/08 Anirban Chowdhury/Business Standard

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Categories: Foreign Feb 2008, Indian Aviation- In General Feb 2008, New Feb 2008