Jet Airways may reinstate sacked pilots

New Delhi: The crisis between Jet management and the pilots seems to be coming to an end. Sources have told CNN-IBN that Jet Airways is likely to take back the four sacked pilots and that the two sides are very close to reaching an agreement.

The President of the National Aviators Guild, Girish Kaushik has told CNN-IBN that there are indications the sacked pilots may be taken back.

"We have some confirmation that they are taking back the sacked pilots," he said, adding, "We have received a compromise formula from the management, but there are certain terms that need to be reworked."

"We are changing things on paper and then we shall send back the papers to management with the changes. There are certain changes that we need. It might take one more day to resolve the crisis," he further said.

The striking pilots are demanding re-instatement of their sacked colleagues. Jet Airways had sacked four of its pilots for joining the newly formed union, National Aviators Guild. In protest, 600 pilots reported sick Tuesday and went on mass leave causing over 400 flights to be cancelled over the last three days and inconveniencing over 28,000 passengers.

Thursday saw 230 domestic and international flights being cancelled.

The pilots are also demanding that the National Aviators Guild be recognised by the Jet Airways management.

The Jet management on its part has been insisting that the pilots who reported sick and went on mass leave should provide medical certificates.

Meanwhile, The carrier's ground staff on Thursday appealed to the pilots to withdraw their agitation and "not put our future at risk".

"We are already going through recession. Our salaries will be delayed. The airline is already undergoing losses. The pilots cannot put our future at risk," customer care executive Jagjeet Kaur told reporters in Delhi.

Added a Jet Airways supervisor, Ashwani, "We appeal to the pilots to give up their agitation. Our airline is making losses and now due to the pilots' agitation, our revenue is going to other airlines. How will we get our salaries?"

In a related development, a contempt petition has been filed against the striking pilots for defying the Bombay High Court ruling asking them not to halt work.

According to a Jet Airways spokesperson, Justice DY Chandrachud of the Bombay High Court has directed a contempt notice to be issued to the National Aviators Guild (NAG), of which the striking pilots are members. It will be heard on Monday.