Aviation India: Careers

New Delhi: With the aviation and global financial crisis hitting at the same time, students pursuing MBA and aviation courses are worried. Many see their hard work and money gone to waste. Others are bracing themselves for the coming, at least, 3-4 years.
Aditi Sharma passed out from AHA (Air Hostess Academy) but works at Café Coffee Day (CCD). Asked if it was the aviation meltdown that took her to CCD, she says, “Not exactly. But this looked like a good option.”
Rohit Sharma, another CCD employee, too wanted to become a steward. “But with the aviation sector coming down in such a big way I took up a job with CCD.” He adds in remorse, “At CCD the lowest level employee gets Rs6,000 and the manager Rs9,000. He is now pursuing MBA through correspondence.
Vandita Malhotra, a cabin crew employee with Spice Jet, earns Rs10,000. “I am with the ground staff. I used to get Rs12,000. But it’s now come down to Rs10,000.” So also with Shreya Sharma, a Jet Airways air hostess. “Before the aviation crisis I used to get Rs30,000-35,000 per domestic flight. I now get between Rs15,000-20,000. It has completely changed my lifestyle.”
“After paying so much money on training, I hardly earn enough to make ends meet,” says Rohit.
Training with agencies like AHA and Frankfinn does not come cheap. Samir Walia, vice-president Marketing and Infrastructure Corporation, says Frankfinn charges Rs1,25,000 per student.
A senior executive with AHA said, “Our students opt for hospitality or aviation. Earlier, the ratio was 50:50. But since the aviation crisis, our placements in aviation have dropped 60%. As a result, now 80% students opt for hospitality.”
21/11/08 Eklavya Atray/Daily News & Analysis