Bankers, government should pitch in to revive Jet Airways: Employees

"We appeal to the government and bankers to be compassionate and come forward to help so that Jet Airways becomes operational again," Bala, a representative of the employees, said.

Chennai: Employees of the Jet Airways staged a silent protest here Thursday urging the government and lenders to come forward to make the grounded airline operational again.

Clad in their uniform, employees of the cash-strapped airline gathered at Pallavaram near the airport and held placards like "Save Jet Airways, Save our future," and "We pay loads of tax, don't put us under the axe."

"We appeal to the government and bankers to be compassionate and come forward to help so that Jet Airways becomes operational again," Bala, a representative of the employees, told reporters here.

He said investors as well should come forward to lend a helping hand to the employees and "trust us and give us an opportunity we will ensure manifold growth of the airline."

Employees do not understand the "dynamics," that led to the grounding of the airline, he said adding the lives of about 22,000 employees spread across the country and their families now faced a question mark.

Emphasising that employees need to be provided immediate relief since salaries for four months were overdue, he said: "Everybody (employees) is in deep distress, there is no salary for four months ...this is the time to pay school fee for children...it will be good if some relief is provided," he added.