Monday, September 29, 2014

Jet Airways in trouble as JetLite pilots line up to join Vistara, IndiGo

Mumbai: Loss-making Jet Airways is staring at further trouble. At least 70 of the 189 pilots with its low-cost subsidiary JetLite (which operates under JetKonnect brand) have decided to quit and accept offers from market leader IndiGo and new player Tata-SIA’s Vistara, sources told FE. With 12 pilots normally dedicated per aircraft, the move could leave up to six of Jet’s Boeing 737, or ATR, aircraft grounded.
The development comes after multiple meetings between the Jet Airways management and JetLite pilots — the last two of which happened on Monday (in Mumbai) and Saturday (in Delhi) — failed to yield positive results. JetLite pilots are unhappy with the “unfair” terms offered by the Jet management under the merger of the JetKonnect brand with the parent that is expected to be completed by December this year. Out of 189 pilots at JetLite — erstwhile Air Sahara, 98 are captains and the rest first officers.
A Jet Airways spokesperson said, "We currently have excess pilot numbers in JetLite and we are opening options to the pilots of working with Jet Airways and in exploring further career opportunities.”
30/09/14 Rhik Kundu/Financial Express
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