Jet Airways staff reminds PM Modi of his dream ‘hawai chappal se hawai jahaj tak'

The employees protesting at Jantar Mantar appealed to consider the situation with urgency it deserves and direct the management of Jet Airways to expeditiously disburse all outstanding dues to affected employees.

New Delhi: The private airlines' carrier Jet Airways, which flew high in the sky across India and the world for the last 25 years, is a sinking ship now due to wanting of funds for survival. At present, it seems not only the end of ‘run-way’ for India’s longest serving private airlines, but also for the 23,000 employees of the company.

To make the administration heard their woes, scores of Jet Airways employees gathered at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital and reminded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his dream of 'Hawai chappal se hawai jahaj tak' and urged to save Jet Airways. In April 2017, flagging off the first UDAN flight under the regional connectivity scheme on Shimla-Delhi route, Modi said he wants to see a common man wearing chappal to travel by plane.

Speaking to ETV Bharat one of the employees of the troubling airlines said, "..this is not mearly an airline, it's employment for some, it's a dream job for some, it's kids future for some, it is connecting with family or friends for some, it's business for some and the list is endless…the closure of Jet Airways would not only affect 23,000 employees but a number of people who are running businesses or are associated with us some way or the other."

As the Jet used to be a key provider of air travel services in the country, with around 14% market share in November 2018, suspension of flights has started building pressure on price front already.

“..the airline ticket prices are sky rocketing and pinching travellers. It was the vision of the leaders in our country to make air commute affordable for everyone but the government is now mute and all politicians are now busy in elections," said another employee while with ETV Bharat.

A representative of the Society for Welfare of Indian Pilots (SWIP), said, "we had brought to the notice of Ministry of Labour and Employment, wide our letter dated 6 March 2019, the distressing situation prevailing in Jet Airways, wherein a section of employees have not been paid their salaries on time for the last seven months." It should be noted that SWIP was formed in 1998 by the pilots of Jet Airways with the purpose of interfacing with the management.

"On 7 December 2018, the company management conveyed the deferment of salary over e-mail and for the pilots and engineers have not received salary for the last three months, and for other employees one month is salary pending”, the representative added.

The protesting staff urged the government to expedite the process of emergency funding as it is very critical for there livelihood.