“We have not given any assurance of support or agreed to anything so far. But we did demand that other cost-cutting measures be put in place first. They have told us about the formation of a task force to identify and implement cost-saving steps,” said a source.
The union has asked to meet Jet’s founder-chairman Naresh Goyal to discuss cost-cutting measures. Expat pilots and their high salaries figure on the wishlist.
“No expat pilot has been served a termination notice even though we were given to understand that their exit was imminent in the present circumstances of reducing fleet strength and surplus crew,” says a letter from the SWIP to Jet’s top management. CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schaeur said he could not comment on the issue because “it is an internal matter of the company on which I will not like to make any comment in public”.
According to sources, Jet Airways recruited 80 foreign pilots – 50 on Boeing 737, 30 on ATR aircraft – this year itself, from January onwards. “The airline will be grounding 5 Boeing 737-400 and 2 Boeing 737-NGs which will put about 75 pilots in the surplus category. We also wanted to know how the management plans to deploy these pilots,” said the source….
…the article continues… but just imagine that even if the salaries of expats are cut, the Indians will be next in line. Apart from this there are other cost reduction methods like reduction in perks, medical benefits etc