‘Cut expat pilots’ pay, not ours’

After the announcement of a 90% salary cut in Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways pilots believe that they may be next in the line and have already tightened their seat-belts. The pilots have demanded that instead of cutting their salaries the airline should think of terminating the services of expatriates who are paid 40% per cent more than Indian pilots.

Last Friday Kingfisher airlines cut salary of its 50 trainee co-pilots. Jet and Kingfisher have an alliance where they will be code-sharing flights. Both are in major cost-cutting mode. 

A high level meeting of Jet Airways officials was held on Wednesday to discuss pay cuts for the pilots. According to sources, a 10% to 30% cut in the gross salaries of senior pilots and executive pilots was suggested at the meeting.

The pilots, however, have  opposed the move. They have demanded that the airline should sack the expatriates who are paid more than them.

There are more than 1,000 pilots in Jet Airways out of which 250 are foreigners while 800 are Indians. “While an Indian pilot earns Rs5 lakh per month (gross and overtime included), an expatriate is paid Rs6-7 lakh,” said a pilot from Jet Airways pilot association.

The spokesperson for Jet Airways was not available for comment.