Jet Airways has secured the support of its pilots’ union to trim its current high-cost structure.
In a letter, the National Aviator’s Guild (NAG) committee, the highest decision-making body of the airline’s pilots’ union, has urged its members to cooperate with the management in a bid to tide over the crisis.
“As a responsible body, NAG recognises that aviation is passing through a turbulent phase. Fuel costs are on the rise, the rupee is at an all-time low and low fares are among the factors contributing to the challenges faced by all airlines today,” the NAG Committee wrote in the letter.
“We are endeavouring to assist our company in facing these challenges by meeting with the management and being a part of the solution in achieving cost efficiencies and enhancing our service standards,” the letter said.
Inducting aircraft
“The induction of the latest generation of aircraft in the form of the Boeing 737 Max will, we are sure, also play a large part in helping to achieve the same,”the letter added.
Stating that most of them have been loyal employees of Jet Airways, the committee said, “it would be a matter of pride to be a part of ensuring that it maintains it’s position as India’s premier airline, here and abroad.”
“We look forward to a long and continued relationship with the company and are confident of the airline’s sustainability in the short as well as the long term,” it said adding, “we advise members to help us achieve our common goals.”
But the NAG is yet to commit the quantum of pay cut that would be acceptable to its members. Jet Airways management is negotiating with all its employees, including the pilots, to take a pay cut of 25% till the situation improved.
“Yes, I have received the letter, but there is no question of taking pay cut,” a NAG member said.