Jet staff knock on Aviation Ministry's doors, requests to save airline

Faced with the prospect of job loss, the employees of grounded Jet Airways knocked on the doors of government for helping to save the airline.

New Delhi: Employees of cash-strapped Jet Airways on Tuesday protested in front of Ministry of Civil Aviation demanding the Central government help to resume the airline services.

Around 500 Jet Airways employees including cabin crew members, aircraft engineers and ground staff took part in the protest.

While speaking to ETV Bharat, one of the Jet Airways employees said, "We haven't received our salaries since February and now we are EMI defaulters. We are worried as we have to pay out the debt."

Pushependra Singh, who is in the Security department of Jet Airways while showing the credit card of SBI says that the limit of this card is 1 lakh 30 thousand and I have used all its money and if the SBI won't pay loan to Jet Airways, I'll also not pay for the credit card.

Another Jet Airways employee, Madhavi who is working as the Junior engineer with the airlines blamed SBI for its temporary shutdown, she said, "SBI promised to give interim funding of Rs 1,500 crore after Jet Airways CEO Naresh Goyal resignation, but when he stepped down from his position SBI refused to pay the airlines after which lessors ended deals with the Jet Airways."

Jet Airways on April 17, cancelled all flights including its international flights temporarily after failing to secure emergency funds from its lenders, according to a statement by the airlines.

Jet Airways decision to temporarily shut down all operations has left its 16,000 employees in the lurch.