SpiceJet on Wednesday told its pilots that they won’t be getting any salary for the months of April and May. However, pilots operating cargo flights the ones allowed during lockdown will be paid for the hours flown. SpiceJet has five freighter aircraft which are ferrying cargo like medical and food supplies within India and abroad. Additionally, it has also deployed passenger aircraft Boeing 737 and Q400 for carrying cargo.
“We will not be getting any salary for April and May 2020. Over the coming weeks we intend to increase the number of aircraft carrying cargo. Our rostering team will ensure that all of us get to fly the aircraft. Flying will be limited but it will ensure that all our training requirements are current and skills stay intact,” Gurcharan Arora, the airline’s Chief of flight Operations said in a message to the pilots.
16 per cent of SpiceJet aircraft are being operated for cargo by 20 per cent of its pilots. Most of the airline’s fleet is grounded since March 24, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a national lockdown to control the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19).SpiceJet has cut salary of cabin crew by 30 per cent and has also made it harder to get promoted. Air India pilots had last week complained that flying allowances which comprise 70% of their pay for the month of February had not been paid to them.