Aviation India: Careers: JetLite tweaks salary of pilots to slash costs

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Saturday, February 23, 2008

JetLite tweaks salary of pilots to slash costs

New Delhi: JetLite, the low-cost subsidiary of Jet Airways, has 'rationalised' pilot salaries. Now they will have to fly 50% more for either the same salary or marginally more. Sources say this trend is likely to catch on, as almost all airlines are deep in red.
"Our commanders used to get about Rs 3.50 lakh per month for flying 50 hours a month. Now we will pay them Rs 4 lakh for flying 75 hours a month," JetLite COO Rajiv Gupta said. While commanders are still in short supply and a precious lot, co-pilots — being churned out in dozens at flight academies around the world — will feel the pinch. "Earlier they used to get about Rs 2.03 lakh per month for flying 50 hours. Now they will get Rs 2.05 lakh for flying 75 hours," Gupta said. The airline feels this is a "win-win" situation for both pilots and the company.
Facing mounting losses and a long queue of fresh co-pilots knocking at doors, Indian domestic carriers are now cutting human resource costs.
With more domestic and international flights (including new services to Gulf) in the offing, 'cheaper' pilots will make a big difference to the bottomline.
22/02/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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