The All India Jet Airways’ Officers & Staff Association has approached Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, seeking his intervention for the resolution of their issues. The Association has requested Scindia to take up their issues and present their demands to the representatives of the Jalan Kalrock Consortium, which has won the bid for the Airline.
The employees of Jet Airways are seeking payment of all social-security dues, including provident fund and gratuity. Among other things, they are also demanding assurance of employment for the existing employees on the payroll.
The letter by the Association points out that the dues of Rs 52 crore being offered to the employees is not adequate to cover the original claims that had been accepted by the “resolution professional”.
Jet Airways had suspended operations in April 2019, and had been undergoing the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). After two years of proceedings, in June 2021, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had lent its approval to the Consortium’s resolution plan for the grounded Jet Airways, subject to conditions. The Consortium had proposed infusing Rs 1,375 crore, including Rs 475 crore for payment to stakeholders, and financial creditors.
This is the first time in India that an airline is getting a chance at revival post closure of operations. Never before has any airline, not even Kingfisher Airlines, been able to find an investor to restart operations.