As many as 16,500 employees- pilots, engineers and ground staff who have not been paid for months have been left in the dark zone, with the company failing to keep up its word on clearing their dues.
In a letter to the employees, Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube wrote that it was “not an easy decision to make, but without the interim funding, which we have been repeatedly requesting for, we are simply unable to conduct flight operations in a manner that delivers to the very reasonable expectations of our guests, employees, partners and service providers.”
Many on Twitter expressed solidarity with them.
Praying for the 15000+ employees at @jetairways – this must be a terrible,terrible time for them.
— Masaba (@MasabaG) April 17, 2019
What if all the 22000 employees of Jet get together and create a trust putting together their monies to create a corpus of 4000 crores and own #jetairways @jetairways akin to fractional ownership. Create self employment and ownership
— Rohit Gopakumar (@rohitsLogic) April 18, 2019
I got 2 emails from @jetairways one on the cancellation of the flights and the reason for it, it is very detailed. Second on the redemption of JP miles and ways to redeem it. You have been honourable in your low phase Please take care of your employees. All the best. #JetAirways
— Nikhil (@nikhilcm2) April 18, 2019
What if all the 22000 employees of Jet get together and create a trust putting together their monies to create a corpus of 4000 crores and own #jetairways @jetairways akin to fractional ownership. Create self employment and ownership
— Rohit Gopakumar (@rohitsLogic) April 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/goingtogetworse/status/1118739844589469696
https://twitter.com/goingtogetworse/status/1118739844589469696
#JetAirways || Sanjana, daughter of a @jetairways employee, has started a petition appealing to @PMOIndia & @TheOfficialSBI for instant financial help to revive the airline. Sign & share, your voice counts!https://t.co/M0pMFaCoGk@sardesairajdeep @SachinKalbag @seemagoswami
— Change.org India (@ChangeOrg_India) April 18, 2019
Not flying @jetairways this IPL is a real pity. A world class airline that made domestic flying a real pleasure….Missing you guys…hope you bounce back soon ?#JetAirways
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 18, 2019
Jet, which had been constantly fighting ‘financial turbulence’ for months faced a final blow on Tuesday after the association of lenders led by the State Bank of India (SBI) refused a request to inject Rs 983-crore in emergency funding to remain afloat.
The airline which was operating just 5 flights on Wednesday did not even have enough funds to buy fuel or pay other service charges, forcing them to quit the work thereby, bringing an end to the journey that all started 26 years ago.
Previous attempts to sell Jet Airways with a debt of over Rs 8000 crore had failed.