Questions about Spicejet
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Questions about Spicejet
I have been getting a few queries regarding happenings at Spicejet. While I can honestly say that I am not necessarily in the "know" I am posting my personal observations for those who have asked. I had posted earlier for ATA and ALOHA guys. I can't be sure how many made it here as I have not heard from any ATA/ALOHA folks since their arrival here.
1. Cadet program is no more. No slots for anyone.
2. New type rated F/O's also laid off recently(I believe 14-15).
3. 4 Indian Capts left in the last 12 months for "greener pastures." Only time will tell if they made the right decision.
4. No new expat hiring at the moment. A few new Indian Capts in training.
5. Possibility of additional F/O's being furloughed if fleet size stays at 15.
6. I'm told some expats asked to extend their leave. As Spicejet leave is unpaid, it saves the company money. Not sure if/when these lads will return.
Some perhaps have decided to go elsewhere while others might adapt a wait and see approach depending on their individual situation. At any given time there are probably 20-30 Captains on leave.
7. WL Ross investment seems to be firm and holding (USD 80-100M). That should tide us over until the new year I expect. Load factors recently have been dismal (not just us). Flights have been cancelled due to "lack of interest." Flying for Capts has dropped from 100 + a month to less than 75.
Some expats are unhappy about this as they were counting on overtime.
Personally I am quite happy with 75-80 hrs/month. It gives me the time I need to balance work and family life here in India. You may recall my gripe earlier was not getting the days off I needed per the contract. Looks like for now the pendulum has swung the other way.
8. CEO left for Indigo. No new appointment as yet. Captain Jack Ekl is still CP and Captain Jatti Dhillon is the VP/Flt Ops.
9. Spicejet remains a friendly, warm and professional place to work despite all the talk of financial gloom and doom. Paychecks to date have been early as always.
Hope this helps answer some of your questions.
1. Cadet program is no more. No slots for anyone.
2. New type rated F/O's also laid off recently(I believe 14-15).
3. 4 Indian Capts left in the last 12 months for "greener pastures." Only time will tell if they made the right decision.
4. No new expat hiring at the moment. A few new Indian Capts in training.
5. Possibility of additional F/O's being furloughed if fleet size stays at 15.
6. I'm told some expats asked to extend their leave. As Spicejet leave is unpaid, it saves the company money. Not sure if/when these lads will return.
Some perhaps have decided to go elsewhere while others might adapt a wait and see approach depending on their individual situation. At any given time there are probably 20-30 Captains on leave.
7. WL Ross investment seems to be firm and holding (USD 80-100M). That should tide us over until the new year I expect. Load factors recently have been dismal (not just us). Flights have been cancelled due to "lack of interest." Flying for Capts has dropped from 100 + a month to less than 75.
Some expats are unhappy about this as they were counting on overtime.
Personally I am quite happy with 75-80 hrs/month. It gives me the time I need to balance work and family life here in India. You may recall my gripe earlier was not getting the days off I needed per the contract. Looks like for now the pendulum has swung the other way.
8. CEO left for Indigo. No new appointment as yet. Captain Jack Ekl is still CP and Captain Jatti Dhillon is the VP/Flt Ops.
9. Spicejet remains a friendly, warm and professional place to work despite all the talk of financial gloom and doom. Paychecks to date have been early as always.
Hope this helps answer some of your questions.
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The aviation industry is like any others.... fluctuating and aligning to the market variables. Though the situation is definitely grim at the moment (and here i am not singling out spicejet, but indian aviation as a whole), it would definitely ease out in about a year's time.
It's high time the airlines stopped bleeding each other by selling tickets at low prices just to get higher load factors. At the end of the day, its like any other business. They need to make money.
Passengers will definitely travel, even if they need to shell out more moolah to get that seat. Don't we all still drive paying almost twice as much as we used to for fuel ??
It's high time the airlines stopped bleeding each other by selling tickets at low prices just to get higher load factors. At the end of the day, its like any other business. They need to make money.
Passengers will definitely travel, even if they need to shell out more moolah to get that seat. Don't we all still drive paying almost twice as much as we used to for fuel ??
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the 14 f/o's which were laid off, were called back ... they had a meeting yesterday ...
can the management make up its mind once and for all? they have made a mockery of themselves.
can the management make up its mind once and for all? they have made a mockery of themselves.
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Kinda tough for mgmt to show a human and financial capital loss amounting to 2.4 crores in one fell swoop. Complete lack of manpower planning and foresight has landed both SG and these poor guys and gals in a conundrum.
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one more comment about the SG cadet program ... all 123 cadets which had been taken on, were given the boot.
out of the 123 cadets, 10 were taken on and sent for their sim training. these 10 f/o's were also given the boot. this was done in a very unprofessional manner.
the airline never had a requirement for a 123 cadets ... ironically, not even a single cadet has a job with it now.
some people became very rich in the process.
out of the 123 cadets, 10 were taken on and sent for their sim training. these 10 f/o's were also given the boot. this was done in a very unprofessional manner.
the airline never had a requirement for a 123 cadets ... ironically, not even a single cadet has a job with it now.
some people became very rich in the process.
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What's more brazen about this is that they are STILL advertising and recruiting for cadets on the SG and UA website.
Highway robbery.
FM99..... unlike the west where aviation is almost an essential service, flying is still considered a luxurious domain of the rich. The mindset is validated by the gov't through exorbitant taxes/levies which it perceives the 'rich/well off' can afford to shell out for the privilege of flying. Until this perception changes aviation in India will always be an afterthought for the general public.
Highway robbery.
FM99..... unlike the west where aviation is almost an essential service, flying is still considered a luxurious domain of the rich. The mindset is validated by the gov't through exorbitant taxes/levies which it perceives the 'rich/well off' can afford to shell out for the privilege of flying. Until this perception changes aviation in India will always be an afterthought for the general public.
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I am on leave but as far as I know he is still with Spicejet. His rumoured departure to Oman Air has been floating around for two months or more now.
Nothing official has been mentioned. Even when Capt Jack Ekl left, everyone seemed to know through the grapevine that he was leaving and the date etc.
But there was no official confirmation of such. He just left. His name still appears on the roster in an "inactive/NDA" status. They are rumours that he was to return as COO etc etc. It seems like often times we are the last to know. Employees are not given any advance information
Nothing official has been mentioned. Even when Capt Jack Ekl left, everyone seemed to know through the grapevine that he was leaving and the date etc.
But there was no official confirmation of such. He just left. His name still appears on the roster in an "inactive/NDA" status. They are rumours that he was to return as COO etc etc. It seems like often times we are the last to know. Employees are not given any advance information
. Guess you weren't in Orlando.
