Stranded mid-air, Jet asks pilots to come back to work
As the standoff between Jet Airways and its pilots continued into its second day, 432 pilots called in sick and 130 flights were cancelled. Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal warned them of consequences, but still talked about resolving the problem amicably.
MORE THAN 130 Jet Airways flights were cancelled on Wednesday (September 9), even as the management tried to figure a way out of the impasse which has caused a major dent to its image as the largest private airline in the country.
Jet management said that the striking pilots are using the sick leave as an excuse for strike and said that they could tell for how long the stand-off would continue. The company also thanked the pilots, who had reported on duty.
With more than 432 airline pilots reporting sick, the operations of Jet Airways have been severely affected and with neither pilots nor airline in any mood to relent, there seems to be no end to this crisis.
A meeting of the top management of the company was also held in the morning to hammer out a solution that is satisfactory to both the sides.
A day after threatening to shut operations, livid Jet chairman Naresh Goyal accused the pilots of behaving like terrorists. He asserted that action would be taken against them, if they continued to hold the airline and the passengers to ransom.
On a conciliatory note, Goyal also asked the striking pilots to come to the discussion table so that a solution could be found. Talking to a news channel, he hinted at re-instating the sacked pilots, the primary demand of the pilots union, but only if they agreed to follow the rules and regulations of the company.
Meanwhile, to present its side of the story, Jet management today called a press conference today afternoon, in which they expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the passengers. Senior company officials, who were present in the press conference asked the striking pilots to return to work to mitigate the problems of the travellers.
They also informed that a Jet Passengers Crisis centre has been established to ensure that problems faced by the customers due to the strike, are minimised.
Jet management said that the striking pilots are using the sick leave as an excuse for strike and said that they could tell for how long the stand-off would continue. The company also thanked the pilots, who had reported on duty.
It is believed that the spat between the Jet management and the pilots was precipitated over the formation of National Aviator's Guild, a union of pilots. Girish Kaushik, the president of the Guild has demanded the reinstatement of the five pilots fired by the management and said that he was ready to meet chairman Naresh Goyal.
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