Much before its sack order to 1,900 employees turned into a publicity nightmare, Jet Airways had handed marching orders to 1,000 workers and even managed to keep it under wraps.
According to informed sources, Jet Airways chief executive officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer had told investors that the company was able to synergise better between full service Jet Airways and budget airlines JetLite after trimming its staff.
"On the staff numbers, we have reduced the headcount in September by further 1,000 entries and now able to synergise the operations between Jet and JetLite," the sources said quoting Prock-Schauer.
Despite repeated attemps to elicit comments, Jet Airways spokesperson did not respond.
During September, Jet Airways had anounced that JetLite offered voluntary separation scheme to 687 employees.
In the same month, Jet and JetLite executed a codeshare agreement aimed at offering better connections and wider connectivity, besides having a common reservation system.
The carrier, which has a total of 13,000 employees, played out the sacking-and-reinstatement drama of 1,900 employees in October, with Chairman Naresh Goyal 'overruling' its board decision to fire the employees.
"I apologise for all the agony you had to go through for two days. You can all come back to work from tomorrow. We have decided to take back all the employees," Goyal had said in a midnight press conference.
Jet came under attack from various ministers and agitating employees for the sudden decision to sack so many people immediately, especially ahead of Diwali. It, however, defended itself stating that the decision was taken to save the jobs of the other 11,100 employees and would result in savings of $1 million a month.
Didn't sack 1,000 in Sept, CEO's information incorrect: Jet
Jet Airways spokesperson on Wednesday said that company had not sacked 1,000 persons in September and the correct position was that over 800 employees of subsidiary Jetlite were offered absorption into parent company or a voluntary separation scheme.
Asked about Jet Airways CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer's comments on the official website: "On the staff numbers we have reduced the headcount in September by further 1,000 entries and now able to synergise the operations between Jet and Jetlite," the spokesperson said, "the information is incorrect."
"The Q2 (second quarter) communication CEO is referring to is Jetlite, where 824 employees were either offered an absorption into Jet Airways for Jetlite operation or a voluntary separation scheme," Jet Airways vice president (corporate communication) Ragini Chopra told PTI on phone from Mumbai.
"Of thee 457 were absorbed in Jet Airways and the rest took a VSS," she clarified.