Pilots oppose Jet's graded salary cut plan

A gruelling seven-hour meeting between the Jet Airways management and employees at the Ramada Hotel in Mumbai today ended in partial success with employees other than the airline’s 750-odd Indian pilots agreeing to take graded salary cuts to help keep the troubled airline afloat. The pilots asked the management to give them a firm commitment on laying off the airline’s 240-odd expatriate pilots, most of whom are commanders and receive salaries 50 per cent higher than their Indian counterparts. The expatriate pilots are employed on contract.
The airline had, however, laid off about 27 expatriate pilots who flew the 737 fleet a few weeks ago. The Jet management said it is prepared to meet the pilots again in the next few days for an amicable settlement, but does not rule out strong action if there is no agreement.
The trouble for Jet Airways, the country’s largest private carrier, in immediately laying off the expatriate pilots is that most of them are flying the wide-bodied aircraft for the airline. But the airline is yet to lease out at least six of the Boeing 777-300-ERs. In the recent past, it announced a deal with Turkish Airline but the final lease agreement is yet to be finalised. The airline also has to phase out certain aircraft as part of fleet rationalisation and this move will also take time. So, to deliver immediately on the Indian pilots’ demand will be tough call for the airline.
24/11/08 Business Standard

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Categories: Jet Airways Nov 2008