Covid-19 impact | Airline employees continue to feel the pinch, emoluments take a hit

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IndiGo has informed its employees that they have to go on leave without pay for 4 days per month which is a reflection of falling passenger revenues due to the ongoing pandemic and attendant restrictions of mobility.

According to an email sent to its employees by company senior Vice-President Ashim Mittra, the policy comes into effect from June 1 and will be followed till September this year, according to media reports.

Second wave

As of August 2020, IndiGo was the largest carrier both by passenger count and fleet size.

 “The second wave has been difficult for all of us and has also resulted in a reduction in passenger loads. As a result, our commercial schedule had to be curtailed accordingly,” the email said.

In contraction pocket

According to the figures released by the government on May 31, transport was one of the worst-hit sectors of the economy in FY21.

The growth in Gross Value Added in the four quarters of FY21 for the “trade, hotels, transport, communications” sector was (-)48.1%, (-)16.1%, (-)7.9% and (-)2.3%.

The Indigo communication said under this policy, employees would get a compulsory leave from 1.5 to 4 days depending on the employee group.

Pilots

Pilots working with IndiGo have to go on 3 days of LWP for the next 3 months from June 1, 2021.

Employees belonging to the A and B band — the lowermost rungs — would not come under the purview of this policy. The majority of the employees belong to category A and B.

SpiceJet too has announced that employees will be paid based on work hours.