Kingfisher slashes salaries of trainee pilots

    
MUMBAI: Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines on Saturday slashed salaries of its 50 trainee co-pilots as it charted ways to overcome the ongoing financial turbulence in the aviation industry.
    
"With a view to tide over the ongoing turbulence in the aviation industry, and keeping in mind the reduction in capacity deployed, Kingfisher Airlines has effected a downward revision in the emoluments of a small pool of 50 trainee co-pilots," a company spokesperson said.
    
The company, however, did not specify by how much the salaries of the trainee co-pilots have been cut.
    
But it insisted that the trainee co-pilots would continue to remain on the pay-roll of the company.
    
"They will all continue to enjoy and be able to avail of full benefits and privileges that are available to employees of the company such as medical and travel benefits," the spokesperson added.
    
Line pilots and commanders of flights, have, however, been exempted from this move, the official said.
    
"The airline had to resort to this move as some of its aircraft have been grounded," he added.
     
Earlier this week, Mallya had announced after a board meeting of the carrier that it had no excess staff and there would be no retrenchment.
     
The slashing of salary by Kingfisher comes on the heels of Jet Airways having to take back 1,900 employees after announcing their retrenchment.