MUMBAI – India’s top private airline Jet Airways, which this week announced an alliance with rival Kingfisher Airlines, has laid off 800 employees, including pilots and cabin crew.
It is also axing flights in a bid to cut soaring costs.
The company said cabin crew hired for a planned expansion programme which had been suspended would lose their jobs.
BBC Online reported that hundreds of shocked and angry employees gathered Mumbai to protest at the move.
Union officials in Maharashtra are threatening to ground Jet Airways flights.
Jet and Kingfisher, who have nearly 60% of the market in India, said the rise in the price of jet fuel this year was a major factor in wanting to join forces in order to cut costs.
“As painful as it may be for every single person affected, this adjustment was inevitable in the greater interest of regaining viability of Jet Airways and to securing its economic health,” an airline statement said.
According to reports, Kingfisher Airlines is also considering laying off staff.
