Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways may explore the possibility of absorbing some senior pilots from JetLite ? the no-frills airline operated by its Indian partner Jet Airways ? that will soon cease to exist. The move is aimed at addressing the concerns of JetLite pilots who were given the option to join Jet Airways, but at the cost of foregoing their seniority.
On September 9, a team of about 40 JetLite pilots met Jet Airways’ chief executive designate Cramer Ball, chief operating officer Hameed Ali, senior vice-president for flight operations Nikhil Vaid, vice-president of human resources Samar Srivastava, and a senior Etihad Airways official at New Delhi airport?s T3 to discuss and resolve issues pertaining to the integration of JetLite?s pilots into Jet Airways? fold. FE couldn?t immediately ascertain the name of the Etihad Airways official present at the deliberations.
According to three people familiar with the development, the Etihad Airways official suggested at the meeting that the international carrier could absorb some senior JetLite pilots since it was in the process of expanding its fleet and would require 200-250 additional pilots by next year. None of them wanted to be identified.
On August 13, Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal had said at a press conference in Mumbai that his company, which is faced with mounting losses, will adopt a single-brand strategy and do away with the no-frills services offered under the JetLite brand.
Subsequently, an internal memo dated August 19 circulated among JetLite?s employees stated that they would be given the option to join Jet Airways, albeit on the condition that their previous flying experience would hold no value and they would be placed at the bottom of the rank, possibly below Jet Airways? existing pilots with less experience.
Despite the Etihad Airways official saying that JetLite pilots may have a chance to fly with the middle-eastern airline, the latter have their doubts.
JetLite pilots say that even if Etihad Airways looked to recruit from its Indian partner airline, preference would be given to existing Jet Airways pilots who have flown wide-bodied aircraft, which comprise the majority of its fleet. JetLite pilots are mostly experienced in flying narrow-bodied aircraft on domestic routes.
The three sources confirmed that Ball would take a week?s time to discuss this matter with Jet Airways? pilots and revert with a solution that would be satisfactory to both sets of pilots.
Commenting on the meeting between the pilots and the management, Jet Airways issued a statement on Tuesday saying: ?Discussing future plans for the Jet Aviation Group, Ball provided details of the three-year business plan and the proposed single-brand strategy, specifically the operational requirements for Jet Airways, JetLite and the opportunities this would create for the pilot community. He addressed issues of concern during the integration, including career opportunities and entitlements.?
When contacted on Wednesday to seek confirmation on Etihad Airways? intention to hire pilots from its Indian partner, the Jet Airways spokesperson declined further comment.
An email sent to Etihad Airways on Wednesday afternoon didn’t receive any response till going to press
Apart from seniority-related concerns, JetLite pilots are also worried they will be asked to shift their base location.
?We want both seniority and base protection under the integration plan,? said a pilot present at the meeting. ?Under the scheme offered, our senior pilots with over 15,000 hours of flying experience will be at the lowest ladder of Jet?s hierarchy. Moreover, JetLite trainers (high- ranking pilots serving as instructors) will lose their status and be relegated to line captains.?
FE reported on August 28 that JetLite pilots interpreted the August 19 memo as being an indication that though they will continue to fly the same Boeing 737, their previous experience will not be taken into account while awarding promotions and Jet Airways? existing pilots may get preference during appraisals.
Another JetLite pilot told FE that if the management didn?t address their concerns, it could lead to an exodus of senior pilots.
?At present many airlines like Qatar Airways, AirAsia India, Vistara and Indigo are looking for pliots. Many JetLite pilots have offers from them,? he said.
JetLite currently has about 177 pilots, of which 97 are captains and the rest are first officers, while the much larger Jet Airways has about 1,500 pilots.