Kingfisher pilots approach DGCA

The dozen-odd pilots, who had earlier quit the Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines to join Qatar Airways, have petitioned the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to waive the mandatory six months notice period (for leaving the company) on their service contract.

The pilots said they are seeking the waiver as the airline has already breached their contracts by altering some service conditions including changes in salary structure.

“The CAR was put in place to prevent last minute resignations by pilots. However, the airline is misusing it to stop us from joining other airlines,” a petitioner said.

Kingfisher Airline pilots have been up in arms against the management for quite some time now over the alleged changes in their service contracts, especially after the airline slashed their salaries by Rs 80,000 in February this year.

The airline had then justified the salary cut by saying that “it was moving towards a productivity-linked compensation structure.”

“They have revised the whole salary package downward unilaterally, which is a clear breach of contract,” the petitioner said.

"Besides, other benefits have also been lowered like accommodation, transport and even training quality,” the petitioner added.