Left Wing
23rd Oct 2008, 23:45
NEW DELHI: From being priceless professionals, in short supply, till some months back, highly-paid pilots are now becoming the principal targets for
cost-cutting by India’s loss-making airlines. Close on the heels of Kingfisher, Jet Airways is looking at cutting salaries of its pilots by about 20% from next month.
Apart from cutting salaries, Indian carriers have now started sending the ‘‘more expensive’’ foreign pilots back. The expatriates’ number has fallen from 944 in February, 2008, to less than 900 now. In past three years, foreign pilots’ numbers were rising almost every month due to a shortage of trained fliers here.
A senior Jet Airways pilot said the management has begun sounding out pilots about this move before making a formal announcement in coming days.
‘‘We are being told of the financial difficulty the company is facing and that we all need to tighten our belt to helps the company survive this tough time. Anyway, the market is so tight that there’s no option but to accept a reduced pay,’’ said a pilot. Jet has approximately 800 pilots with salaries ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 3.5 lakh.
A senior Jet official said: ‘‘We have not taken a final decision as yet. But the senior people in the company, including pilots, may have a cut in their pay package. So people are anticipating something. What and by how much, is not yet finalised.’’
soon the 5 star layovers will go too......
cost-cutting by India’s loss-making airlines. Close on the heels of Kingfisher, Jet Airways is looking at cutting salaries of its pilots by about 20% from next month.
Apart from cutting salaries, Indian carriers have now started sending the ‘‘more expensive’’ foreign pilots back. The expatriates’ number has fallen from 944 in February, 2008, to less than 900 now. In past three years, foreign pilots’ numbers were rising almost every month due to a shortage of trained fliers here.
A senior Jet Airways pilot said the management has begun sounding out pilots about this move before making a formal announcement in coming days.
‘‘We are being told of the financial difficulty the company is facing and that we all need to tighten our belt to helps the company survive this tough time. Anyway, the market is so tight that there’s no option but to accept a reduced pay,’’ said a pilot. Jet has approximately 800 pilots with salaries ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 3.5 lakh.
A senior Jet official said: ‘‘We have not taken a final decision as yet. But the senior people in the company, including pilots, may have a cut in their pay package. So people are anticipating something. What and by how much, is not yet finalised.’’
soon the 5 star layovers will go too......