Jet Airways cancels 14 flights as pilots report 'sick' over non-payment of their dues, says talks on to resolve crisis

Jet Airways cancelled at least 14 flights on Sunday after some of its pilots reported “sick” over non-payment of salaries, sources said. The carrier has been not paying salaries to its senior management along with pilots and engineer since August due to a severe cash crunch. The airline has partially paid for September while the full salaries of October and November remain unpaid.

“At least 14 flights have been cancelled so far due to some pilots reporting sick. They are protesting against non-payment of salary, dues and the indifferent attitude of the National Aviator’s Guild (NAG), a domestic pilots body of Jet Airways, representing over 1,000 pilots, in taking up the issue with the management,” the source said.

Read More | Fuel prices continue downward trend, check December 3 rates here

A spokesperson for the airlines said, "The management is in regular dialogue with pilots and other teams to discuss and resolve on-going issues including disbursement of salaries."

Jet Airways spokesperson on 14 Jet Airways flights cancelled yesterday after pilots reportedly called in sick: The management is in regular dialogue with pilots and other teams to discuss and resolve on-going issues including disbursement of salaries. https://t.co/qFwljCWcCr

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2018

The airline said in a statement the flights were cancelled due to an “unforeseen operational circumstance, and not pilot non-cooperation”. It, however, did not give the number of flights cancelled, according to PTI.

Another source said, “Some of the pilots have also written to airline chairman Naresh Goyal, stating that they are unwilling to work in this manner.”

Also Read | Sensex surges over 200 pts on US-China trade truce

Jet Airways said the passengers of the affected flights were duly informed about their flight status via SMS alerts and they have been re-accommodated or compensated.