Jet Airways Management Meets Pilots of Subsidiary

New Delhi/Mumbai: A meeting between Jet Airways management and pilots of its subsidiary airline JetLite was held on Tuesday but no decision was arrived at on the issue of demands of the pilots, who are opposed to their shifting to the parent company.

However, the company, in a statement termed the meeting as "constructive and well received".

The meeting with the pilots was called by the airline chief executive (designate) Cramer Ball in New Delhi to resolve the conscientious issue of seniority and career progression of JetLite pilots after their merger with Jet Airways.

"The pilots wanted a firm commitment from the management on their demands including service pay protection and maintaining of seniority before transferring them to the parent Jet Airways, which has not been accepted by the company," an airline source familiar with the development told PTI after the meeting.

The management said that it was open to further talks on the issue but did give any commitment to the pilots on meeting their demands, the source said.

Airline chairman Naresh Goyal had last month announced his plans to exit low-cost services and merge its two no-frills brands with parent full service carrier by year end. In the process, some 230 JetLite pilots will be shifted to the parent company.

"The pilots have also demanded that the trainers from JetLite to be absorbed in Jet Airways be given the same position and the same seniority. Besides, they also wanted to know as to how they will go to wide-body planes," the source said.

"The pilots have threatened that if their demands are not considered they may move to other upcoming airlines in the country," the source added.

Cramer Ball and senior officials on Tuesday met with Jet Lite pilots in New Delhi, Jet Airways said in a statement.

"Discussing future plans for the Jet Aviation Group, Ball provided details of the three-year business plan and the proposed single brand strategy, specifically the operational requirements for Jet Airways, Jet Lite and the opportunities this would create for the pilot community," the statement said.

Ball addressed issues of concern (of the pilots) during the integration including career opportunities and entitlements, the airline added.