• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Ashwini Phadnis

Mr Peter Luethi

New Delhi , Nov. 16

IN an effort to further rationalise its operations, Jet Airways has introduced the concept of total cross-utilisation of staff in about eight or nine of the stations to which it operates.

"Cross-utilisation means that in stations where you do not have several flights a day, you start to use the staff in different functions, which is actually a way of bringing about greater job enhancement," the airline's Chief Operating Officer, Mr Peter Luethi, told Business Line.

Besides, Jet Airways has also started outsourcing some of the activities connected with maintenance of ground equipment, thereby allowing it to use the manpower in airline-related activity. In addition, the airline has also been able to negotiate better communication contracts, which is also proving to be a big saving.On the issue of what kind of cost savings these moves were resulting in for the airline, Mr Luethi felt that it was "difficult" to determine at this point of time. However, he was categorical that these moves had not resulted in any major job losses. "I think this is an issue that has more to do with us adding some flights with the same fleet. This helps us absorb the staff without having any additional staff and also gives us the opportunity to look at outsourcing some of the work," Mr Luethi said. While indicating that the 21-day Apex fare, to be launched next week, will be in line with "what is on the market", Mr Luethi felt that some more studies would have to be done to understand how the apex fares should be structured to attract short-haul passengers.

Talking about the proposal to allow private sector scheduled airlines to fly to Sri Lanka, Mr Luethi said that while the airline welcomes the policy move, it was necessary to be careful also. "We welcome the move but, at the same time, we have to be careful not to think that from tomorrow, we can fly to 50 destinations worldwide," the airline official said.

Officials indicated that the airline would utilise the new Boeing 737-800 aircraft for operating flights to Colombo and is unlikely to make any changes in the interior of the aircraft that will be used.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Bid to rationalise operations — Jet Airways to introduce staff `cross-utilisation'

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line