Jet Airways sacks 35 expat pilots

With the aviation industry in a facing rough weather, private air-carrier Jet Airways has terminated services of up to 35 expatriate pilots who captain the airlines' Boeing 737-aircraft.

Confirming the development, a Jet Airways spokesperson said some 25-odd pilots have been sacked. But aviation industry sources claimed that services of up to 35 expatriate Boeing-737 captains have been terminated by the Naresh Goyal-led domestic airline.

The expatriate pilots get between USD 15,000-18,000 salary per month besides prerequisites such as five-star hotel accommodation and business-class conveyance to their home country, which is significantly more expensive to the airline when compared to the Indian flight crews.

Last month, Vijay Mallya-run, and Jet Airways alliance partner, Kingfisher Airlines, had announced a 90% cut in the salaries of its trainee pilots as part of its cost-cutting measures. PTI