Jet Cancels 14 Flights As Pilots Report 'Sick' Amid Salary Defaults

Jet Airways said the passengers of the cancelled flights were informed about the flights.

Top private airline Jet Airways cancelled at least 14 flights on Sunday after some of its pilots, protesting unpaid salaries, called in sick, sources said.

The loss-making Jet Airways has been defaulting on the payment of salaries to its senior management, pilots and engineers since August due to a severe cash crunch, the Press Trust of India reports. The airline's spokesperson asserted that flight were cancelled "due to an unforeseen operational circumstance, not pilot non-cooperation."

According to PTI, Jet Airways has paid partial salaries of staff members for September. Salaries have reportedly not been paid at all in October and November.

"At least 14 flights have been cancelled so far due to some pilots reporting sick. They are protesting against the non-payment of salaries and the attitude of the National Aviator's Guild (NAG) in taking up the issue with the management," sources said, adding that some pilots had written to Chairman Naresh Goyal, saying they were unwilling to work this way.

The guild is a domestic-pilots' body of Jet Airways, representing over 1,000 pilots.

The cancelled flights caused a buzz on social media.

The last of the original private airlines to still be flying - Damania, East-West & Modiluft are part of the great airline graveyard in the sky. It's a pity to see Jet Airways slowly unravel like this. https://t.co/d7Ta5nxXrg

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 3, 2018

An airline spokesperson said: "The management is in regular dialogue with pilots and other teams to discuss and resolve ongoing issues including disbursement of salaries."

Jet Airways says the passengers of the cancelled flights were informed through SMS alerts and they were re-accommodated or compensated.

"The company continues to enjoy the complete support and cooperation of all its employees, including pilots and engineers, individually and through their respective representative bodies, who have extended their solidarity and full support to the airline," the airline said in a statement.

"As stated earlier, Jet Airways is committed to meet its obligations and has been progressively addressing this issue with the employees," the statement added.