Budget carrier SpiceJet is cutting employee salaries by as much as 30%.
The airline is implementing a pay cut of between 10-30% for March, but no salary will be payable for the March 25-31 week.
That is when the Indian government imposed a three-week lockdown which continues until mid-April.
That has led to the suspension of all the airline’s operations.
Chairman Ajay Singh will also take a 30% pay cut.
"These are extremely tough times and call for exceptional measures. As tough as it seems, most Indian carriers have already announced a pay cut for their employees. Unfortunately SpiceJet is not immune which has unquestionably affected airlines in the most severe form across the globe," SpiceJet said.
However, employees on the lowest pay grade will receive their full salary.
The airline recently made several expat pilots redundant who were on more lucrative contracts than their Indian colleagues.
"The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have forced us to take some tough measures to ensure that no one at SpiceJet is retrenched," Singh said.
He said SpiceJet is joining other carriers in seeking financial aid from the government.
