20 pc pay cut to senior Kingfisher pilots

Mumbai, Oct 23: After a pay cut to junior pilots of Kingfisher Airlines, its now the turn of Seniors to bear the brunt of crisis in Aviation sector. Reports say that the senior pilots are forced to fly smaller A320 and accept a pay cut upto 20 per cent. Some of these senior pilots had spent over Rs 15 lakh out of their pocket to get training to fly the larger Airbus A340, which the Kingfisher was planning to buy. But the Airlines have cancelled their order for A340.

Airlines officials said that there was no choice but to take such decision ads high crude oil prices along with the taxes has made Aviation Turbine fuel over 60 per cent higher than in other countries. Airlines fares were increased to compensate as a result of which the passengers traffic dropped drastically between July and Sept 2008. Passenger growth has dropped by 25 per cent. Kingfisher have reduced capacity by over 30 pc and even cancelled their aircraft orders

Kingfisher has offered to pay for re-training the pilots to fly smaller aircraft but also wants them to sign a five-year bond tying them to the airline, something they are unwilling to do.

OneIndia News