Now, Jet airways apologises to staff over non-payment of salaries

The crisis-hit airline, Jet Airways, facing a severe cash crunch, told its staff that they met with pilots' representatives and are "working towards a solution which will be communicated in coming week," on Monday.

"We would like to apologise for the delayed payment of your salaries and appreciate your patience in this matter... We would like to inform you that we have met with pilots' representatives and are working towards a solution which will be communicated in coming week," the airline said in a statement.

The Mumbai-based full-service airline, partially owned by UAE national carrier Etihad Airways, has been facing financial problems for quite some time now.

The Naresh Goyal-controlled airline is struggling to mop up funds to meet its payment obligations, including salaries to its over 16,000-strong workforce.

Also read: IT department finds evidence of inflated expenditure by Jet Airways

On October 3, PTI reported citing sources that employees in A1-A5, O1 and O2 grade, or whose salaries are up to Rs 75,000 per month, were paid on October 1, while the rest of the staffers in the M1, M2, E1 and above grades have not been paid yet.

On September 6, the full-service airline informed senior employees that their salaries would be paid in two instalments till November.

The salaries for August was to be paid in two instalments 50 per cent by September 11 and the remaining by September 26.

Though the private carrier paid the first tranche on time, it could disburse only 50 per cent amount of the second instalment on the designated date and deferred the payment of rest 50 per cent to October 9.

(With inputs from PTI)