Comments
Eight JetLite pilots have quit to join Jet Airways. Confirming this development a spokesperson of Jet Airways said that these pilots have joined Jet Airways after obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) from JetLite.
“This is entirely in line with Civil Aviation requirement regulations,” a spokesman for Jet said, adding that the airline offered JetLite pilots a number of options which give them flexibility, expanded career opportunities and growth prospects.
The spokesperson, however, did not get into any details of this. “Joining Jet Airways is optional and voluntary,” the spokesman said. What is irking sections of JetLite pilots is that the eight pilots have been allowed to join Jet Airways within a day of quitting JetLite, while those who want to quit JetLite to join other airlines are being forced to serve out their six month notice periods.
The bone of contention goes back to 2006 when Jet Airways acquired Air Sahara for a consideration of ₹2,217 crore. Air Sahara was renamed JetLite and it operated under the brand name JetKonnect.
JetLite pilots claim that when Air Sahara was acquired its pilots were urged not to leave the company by Jet’s management citing good career progression and stability. But they claim that even today Sahara pilots are yearning for both with Sahara’s senior-most pilot being asked to join below the junior most Jet pilot.
Interestingly, Jet Airways is taking shelter under clause of 3.7 of CAR which states that the ‘notice period’ of six months, however, may be reduced if the air transport undertaking provides a ‘No Objection Certificate’ to a pilot and accepts his resignation earlier than six months.
In September this year, Cramer Ball, then Designate, Chief Executive Officer of Jet Airways, and other senior Jet officials had met JetLite pilots in Delhi to discuss their future plans for the Jet Airways Group. At the meeting, Ball provided details of the airline’s three-year business plans and the proposed single brand strategy, specifically the operational requirement for Jet Airways and JetLite and the opportunities this will create for the pilot community.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.