If an airline is consistently late with their paychecks then it is a sign of a serious problem, which if not addressed and fixed, will ultimately lead to the demise of the airline. The airline may not shut-down, but employees will start to look for other opportunities. Most worker bees, don't have the luxury of skipping a few paychecks or being able to wait for them at length. It is unfair for the airline to expect us to wait for our paychecks, while expecting us to come to work on time etc etc.

At this time, Jet has people sitting around on full pay awaiting their FATAs. They also provide TMU pay equal to 70% the monthly base pay, plus the housing allowance. Not forced to vacate the hotel during the TMU either. I would be interested to hear about Indigo, Spice and AIX, if the same benefits are provided.

It may not be what you are accustomed to in the US, Eruoland, or Canada, but never been cheated out of one rupee for expenses to be reimbursed from pre medicals, car fare, nor hotels when stranded enroute.

Last I checked, AA was on time with their pay, and where are they now? How many on the street with about 400 more about to pound the pavement? I worked for a little gnome in Euroland. The pay date would consistently range from the 7th to the 15th each month. True they were not in the same financial pit as 9W, but is as a pain to manage fixed expenses in the beginning. You can't put 9W management in the same league as KF or AI/AIX. 9W is perhaps a bit more pragmatic about retaining man power than the others.

I realize that this thread is dedicated to 9W issues. Without starting another thread, let alone a bunch of flamers... I'm interested to know how Indigo, Spice, India Express compare with 9W.

I realize the communication and response time for information may not be the best as it were at home. But guess what... I ain't home no more! I don't get my knickers in a twist. I just tell the folks that when they have their problems sorted, either email, text or ring me on my mobile and away we go. As the old saying goes… “Same airline but different paint job.”

Pay issues? 9W is not the first airline to be late with pay. And contrary to popular opinions, it ain't the acid test, for a long established carrier with responsible management, indicating its demise. Call it a mid-course correction.

On a serious note, however, an expat must realize that their next rostered flight may be their last one do to operational reorganization or Governmental edicts. While hard to believe, that holds true for EK, Ethihad, Gulf Air and alike. After all, does anyone remember what happened to all of the Japan Airlines' 747 expats? Here yesterday:), gone today:{.

Still all in all, there are far more opportunities and better paying jobs for expats versus in the US and Euroland for example. The parent company for World, and North American Airlines filed for protection. Both parking jets and probably more lads on the street.

I have a buddy of mine who was a B747 pilot with JAL but he's now at EK on the A380 loving life in Dubai.
As for companies in the US especially legacys, they have an on going cycle, hire many, cutback, furlough, scare tactic bankruptcy etc.
World Airways (including North America) and Omni International laid off 20 pilots each and have parked 3-5 airplanes. So yes there are lots of guys on the street. However many opportunities are out in the Expat world, just that the process takes time. I'm still actively looking for a good fit myself!

Probably a more important question to be asked is what, not only 9W, but Spice, and Indigo too. What can all of these airlines do to overcome the corruption within the DGCA. And let’s not forget the strange bedfellow relationship between Air India and the DGCA too. The government is taxing private carriers up the Hershey Highway, in order to supplement AI’s operations, in hopes they will disappear so Air India will be the dominant carrier to provide crappy service with less than qualified crews at higher prices. Rather coincidental the number of missing security clearances or lost appointments at the IAM BLR gate too. Again strange bed fellow folks.

Calling the system akin to a third world nation is an insult to those nations who are truly third world.

Again, expats from Spice or Indigo, feel free to share your experiences and chime in.

Funny you should mention that. I was supposed to do the medical today, but the paperwork "never made it" to IAM. They can put it off forever as far as I'm concerned. :) Instead of bending over I flew four sectors.

Counting all carriers over here there must be several hundred expats. Jet and Spice pay includes your leave, so it's effective enough for me. You can stay longer and then take a longer break as well. The leave, vacation, and (few) days off during the month work out to about 120 days off per year - 84 at home. Not everybody can handle the place (for various reasons), but a lot of us can.

Many of us are flying 100+ per month, so few are sitting around too much. :)

Wait!!! if you manage to be medically cleared, it takes about 3 weeks until the DGCA gets off their arses to notify the respective company of the good tidings. Airlines are not allowed to accept copies of medicals, as proof, from the pilot. If this is your initial medical then it takes about the same 3 weeks to get your FATA. Your VISA renewal will not happen unless you get a new FATA. And again, your new FATA will not be issued until you have a valid medical recognized by the DGCA. Oh yeah... one other tidbit. No FATA, no Airport Entry Pass.

But at the end of the day you just take your monthly pay, divide by the number of the days in the month, and that's what you are getting paid for doing nothing.:ok:

Can't complain about the digs either. Nice hotel... great staff:ok:... good food... clean room... clean and fresh sheets and towels every day... OK gym too.

I know the private carriers would like to see the process stream lined... but alas with the DGCA and Air India in bed with each other... one has a better chance of observing the sun rising from the Arabian Sea and setting over the Bay of Bengal from Incredible India that is.

Yup, the FATA and AEP expire March 1st. I do the DGCA exam next week, but that won't mean much without the medical.

Funny thing is I did all this (except the medical) in 2007 with SJ, but when you change airlines to go to square one. :rolleyes:

They don't call it Incredible India for nothing:}!

It's amazing... India obtained it's indipendence from the UK in 1947... almost the birth of a new nation. It's rather unfortunate their government have not even reached the age of pubity yet.:{

Jet Airways delays payment of January salaries
 

Trouble continues for airline employees as India's largest airline by market share Jet Airways has delayed payment of salary for the month of January.
The airline was suppose to credit the salaries by 7th of February but the airline failed to do so according to three company sources who did not want to be named. This is the second month in a row that the airline has delayed payment of salaries on time. Surprisingly, unlike January, this time the HR department has not send out any official mail to its employees to convey the reasons for the delay. However sources say that the salaries will be paid by 15th of February this time around.

Spicy... your news is behind the times. No major $hit storm as I heard employees have been notified about the delay in the beginning of Feb. Rest assured when the 15th comes and goes, 9W, being an upstanding carrier will ensure that all employees have had their bank accounts credited with the proper amounts. If not, then standby for additional posts concerning this matter by the close of business on the 15th.


The larger problem as hand, which is more critical to the survival of ongoing operations of all private carriers ranges from the corruption within the DGCA, with the loss of paperwork for FATAs. Also the secret handshake between the DGCA and IAM throughout India to shall we say make things as unpleasant as possible for those seeking initial and renewal medicals.

Rumor is, again, I stress the term RUMOR, has it that 9W is making a plea to crews to take a pay cut upwards of 20%. I also heard that there was not just an emphatic NO, but a “Go $hit in your hat NO!”

Any comments on this rumor, again, I stress RUMOR?

General "Pull together", "Shoulder to the grind stone" type of message from the main company suit. The rumor, again I stress RUMOR, I heard as that the loals were approached with the hopes of a pay cut.

Will it happen again? You betcha mate. That's why God created "Block Offs" so one can look for new adventures in aviation for more secure and stable surroundings.

Yep... it's happened before... a couple of years ago for a couple of pay cycles. Keep track of the exchange rate. The company has been known to make up the loss where the exchange rate has increased from the time the pay was credited to the account til the money being transferred to one's home banks:ok:.

The bank has something to do with that, too. You do have to watch ...

Latest drivel from the chief suit blames fuel prices and the exchange rates for the current losses. With an industry growing 15% YOY and lagging capacity, I fail to realize why airlines can't make a profit, or at least break even. There seems to be a fundamental flaw in the management of airlines in India. Of course cutting pay should resolve all issues. As it stands now, only a load factor of 115% will pull these poorly managed entities into the black.:ugh:

Direct entry
 

It happens to be a good time for the news. Emirate began hiring direct entry



Emirates Careers Centre Media Player

Central Government taxes the heck out of the private carriers to support the suits in Government and Air India. Also, inadequate man power planning at the airline. Ever wonder why locals never reach guaranty?

No DEC at Emirates Yet
 

Are they hiring? You should check them out. I'll stick to flying, myself. It pays a lot better, unless you work in NYC.

I can't comment on the long haul situation, but every airline I've ever worked for has had some degree of chaos in scheduling crews. Call it "dodgy" if you want, but it's also "normal".

We got paid yesterday. We'll see if we're back on schedule in March. That is a concern, granted.

Even with the foible of the captain who let the Supy sit in the right seat for the landing in VABB... and the actor who successfuly came to the defense of the captain... 9W is probably the better game in the Sub-Continent.

Good people, and for the most part... motivated F/Os when given the chance to fly the jet.