SpiceJet sends pilots on leave without pay to rationalise cost

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 20, 2022: SpiceJet on Tuesday sent around 80 pilots on a three-month leave without pay to rationalise costs, as per reports. While the airline didn’t confirm the exact number, it released a statement announcing the development.

 

"In a temporary measure to rationalise costs, SpiceJet has decided to place certain pilots on leave without pay for a period of three months. This measure, which is in line with SpiceJet’s policy of not retrenching any employee which the airline steadfastly followed even during the peak of the Covid pandemic, will help rationalise the pilot strength vis-a-vis the aircraft fleet," the airline said.

As per sources, pilots on the Boeing and Q400 fleet have been asked to go on leave, without pay, in a move to cut costs.

The airline in its statement explained that the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft between March 2019 to November 2020 after two fatal crashes over a technical fault, hurt the financially-embattled airline.

It said, "SpiceJet had in 2019 inducted more than 30 aircraft following the grounding of the 737 MAX aircraft. The airline had continued with its planned pilot induction program in the hope that the MAX would be back in service soon. However, the prolonged grounding of the MAX fleet resulted in a large number of excess pilots at SpiceJet."

The airline, however, expressed hope the situation will be fixed soon. "We will be inducting MAX aircraft shortly and these pilots will be back in service as the induction begins. During the LWP period, pilots will remain eligible for all other employee benefits as applicable, all opted insurance benefits and employee leave travel," it assured.

The airline has been struggling financially. Also, on July 27, the Director General of Civil Aviation ordered SpiceJet to operate only 50% of its flights for the next eight weeks after multiple air safety incidents were reported.

With that deadline soon approaching completion, SpiceJet, in its statement on Tuesday said, "Even after placing certain pilots on leave without pay, SpiceJet will have sufficient number of pilots to operate its full schedule as and when the DGCA restriction on flights is lifted."

Courtesy: India Today