Jet Airways cancels 186 flights as 40% of pilots go off sick
Jet Airways announced (08-Sep-09) pilot members of the National Aviators Guild (NAG) resorted to a simulated strike, deemed as "planned sabotage". A total of 163 pilots and 198 first officers reported sick, representing nearly 40% of the carrier's 760 pilots. [more]
Jet Airways cancelled (08-Sep-09) 186 flights, including 154 domestic and 32 international services affecting 13,000 passengers. A majority of the passengers have been transferred to other carriers [more - Air India]. All JetLite flights have been operated as per the normal schedule. All Jet Airways widebody long-haul flights are currently operating as normal. [more]
Jet Airways, as per the directions of the Regional Labour Commissioner, entered (08-Sep-09) a conciliation process with the pilots. The Regional Labour Commissioner had categorically stated that any strike by the pilots during the pendency of conciliation, would be deemed an illegal act under Industrial Disputes Act. [more - Jet Airways] [more - Bombay High Court]
India's Home Secretary has written to the Chief Secretaries of all States to see whether is it necessary to invoke the provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), to ensure restoration of services so that general public is not further inconvenienced. [more]
Jet Airways: "I will not hesitate to close down the airline if the people who work for it no longer believe in its philosophy of discipline, guest care, safety and punctuality that has taken Jet where it is today. I have no disagreement with pilots. However, I cannot tolerate any breach of the basic principle of discipline. I am ready to reinstate the two sacked pilots if they say they stand by our philosophy," Naresh Goyal, Chairman. Source: Times of India, 09-Sep-09.
National Aviators Guild: "Our stand remains the same. The management must take back the two sacked pilots unconditionally. We have done everything to resolve the issue through talks but to no avail. The ball is now entirely in the management's court. Jet management is blackmailing us by telling us that you disband the union and we will take back the two sacked pilots. This is not at all acceptable to us," Girish Kaushik,, President. Source: The Economic Times, 08-Sep-09.