Jet Airways is in no mood to reduce the number of expat pilots either by sacking them or not renewing their contracts, despite mounting pressure from the airline?s Indian pilots to do so. The airline wanted its pilots to accept a 25% salary cut, but the Indian pilots have made it clear that they will not accept the proposal unless the airline sacks all expat pilots.

Talking to FE, a senior Jet executive said, ?We have a hub in Brussels and we are planning two more in Milan and China. Moreover, we have a mixed bag of pilots from the US, South America and South East Asia and when they fly to any of our international network, we need not accommodate them in star hotels, since they have their home city close to our hub. But when an Indian pilot flies to any international destination, we have to spend a huge amount on their accommodation and other allowances.? According to the executive, an Indian pilot has to be paid anything between $150-$200 as international layover allowances each night. A co-pilot is paid over $100. A layover allowance is the grant given to pilots on a per day basis for overnight stays outside their home cities.

The executive added that due to currency fluctuation, the company gains since its expenses to these pilots is in US dollars at Rs 48 per dollar compared to over Rs 50 at the time of their recruitment.

Currently, the salaries of expat pilots ranges between $25,000-$30,000 which is 40% higher than Indian pilots.

It may be recalled that Jet did not renew the contract of nearly 30 of its expat pilots which expired last month. These pilots flew on long haul destinations on wide-bodied aircraft. But with reduced frequencies, Jet had to take a stance of not renewing their contracts.

The executive maintained, ?Though international traffic has declined, we will bounce back into the black soon by opening more international hubs and destinations.? When contacted, Ragini Chopra, VP, corporate communications and PR at Jet Airways, declined to comment.

Indian pilots at Jet Airways had, in a marathon meeting with chairman Naresh Goyal last month, refused a 25% pay cut. A pilot who attended the meeting said that the airline has 700 Indian pilots and nearly 300 expats. ?Expat pilots? salaries are 40% higher than their Indian counterparts. We suggested to the chairman that expat pilots’ services be terminated to save on costs, but we have not got any affirmation on the issue.?

Sky war

•The salaries of expat pilots ranges between $25,000-$30,000 which is 40% higher than Indian pilots

• Jet did not renew the contract of nearly 30 of its expat pilots which expired last month