One of the worst-impacted sectors due to COVID-19 pandemic is aviation as airlines suffered major losses in recent months as a result of stranded flights. Job losses, pay cuts, bankruptcy riddled the airlines and even to this day, the sector hasn't recovered fully. Amidst all this, SpiceJet has been dragged into a serious allegation quest, which alleges distress among pilots.
An anonymous email addressed to SpiceJet MD and Chairman, Ajay Singh, has been shared on social media, alleging various plights of the pilots. Overworked, distressed, nearly bankrupt, SpiceJet pilots are allegedly facing the brunt of lockdown woes, the anonymous email suggests.
'SpiceJet employee survival'
The explosive email highlights various difficulties allegedly faced by SpiceJet pilots. The email, with the subject "SpiceJet employee survival", alleges that the pilots are only getting paid 10-30 percent of their original salary and are distressed after taking a second gig to try and make ends meet.
The plots were allegedly paid reduced salaries without allowances in the month of March even when the pandemic hadn't hit the sector. The contract terms with the pilots were allegedly changed, didn't approve privilege leaves, and enforced a one-year notice period - all while underpaying the pilots even as the airlines were doing business during the lockdown. The allegations are made through an email, a copy of which can be found below:
"These are some of the many points which is putting your pilots under unnecessary stress. Our cockpits are getting more unsafe day by day. We have written numerous mails to our management pilots but as always, we didn't get any attention or regard. This is the reason I have to resort to writing an open mail to you," read the anonymous email addressed to Singh.
An attempt to malign airline
In response to a request for a comment on the allegations made towards the airlines, SpiceJet spokesperson said this is an attempt to malign the airline and that its pilots have no discontent.
"An anonymous letter claimed to be written by a 'SpiceJet pilot' has been brought to our notice. This is a mischievous and deliberate attempt to defame the airline. Our pilots, like the rest of our employees, have stood solidly behind the airline in these troubled times and we, as a team, have been able to exceptionally sail through these tough times and are rebuilding ourselves. There is absolutely no discontent among our pilots. Employee salaries have risen steadily as the passenger traffic has grown. This is an attempt to malign the airline and mislead the media through completely baseless, misleading material," the statement read.
