Airlines are now leasing manpower

New Delhi/Mumbai: Pilots are Indian carriers’ most prized possession and here’s a new way to pamper them. Allow them to fly planes for other airlines during the lean season.
So even when an airline doesn’t need some pilots, it keeps them on its roles but leases them out to other airlines who pay them higher salaries. The case in point is SpiceJet, with some other airlines expected to follow suit.
SpiceJet has given six pilots to Oman Airways airlines for 12 months. GoAir has sent back three planes during this lean season, thereby releasing around 12 – 15 pilots for other airlines.
However, for the international carriers this is the peak time and they are all out looking out for pilots to man their planes.
In fact, in line with this trend flag carrier Air India has taken 20 pilots from Serbian airline JAT Air and 18 more pilots are on their way to join Air India temporarily.
Federation of Indian Airlines has finalized an agreement between Indian airline companies on sharing scarce resources including pilots whenever an airline has surplus assets.
05/07/07 Arijit Banerjee and Rumi Dutta Hardasmalani/NDTV.com