Jet Airways crisis: Pilots appeal SBI to release Rs 15,000 crore, PM Modi to help save 20,000 jobs

Jet Airways Crisis Update: Jet Airways' pilots have appealed to the State Bank of India to release Rs 15,000 crore funds for airline's survival and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help save 20,000 jobs, Pilots' Guild said today. Earlier on Sunday, the ailing airline averted a deeper crisis after the pilots' body, the National Aviatior's Guild, deferred its "no flying" call to a later date from Monday. The management of the airline is set to meet the lenders today. The guild has around 1,100 pilots as its members. The guild had earlier decided to stop flying from April 15 in protest against non-payment of salaries since last month. However, later in the day on Sunday, the pilots' body postponed its "no pay no work" call for the second time in less than two weeks. The pilots said they want to give more time to the company which is struggling to survive due to the severe cash crunch.

"It has come to our notice that there is a critical meeting planned tomorrow (Monday) morning with the airline management and SBI. In light of the meeting, the members have requested, through their team leaders, that the call of 'no pay no work' be deferred to give the airline a chance of survival," the Guild said in official communication. "Accordingly, as requested, the NAG Committee would like to inform all that the decision stands deferred for the time being," it added. 

Flights suspended

Cash-strapped Jet Airways has extended the suspension of its services to Toronto and Paris from Chennai and back. It has also withdrawn services from SAARC and ASEAN routes for an indefinite period. On Sunday, Jet announced the resignation of one of its independent directors, Rajshree Pathy, from the company for other commitments.

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Jet Airways said in an exchange filing: "This is to inform you that Rajshree Pathy has submitted her resignation as an Independent Director of the company with effect from April 13, owing to time constraints and on account of her other current commitments."