Jet Airways shutdown: Nearly Ninety Assamese Youths lose Jobs

Guwahati, April 22, 2019:

The fall of Jet Airways, which was once the second-largest airlines company in the country (after IndiGO) has been shocking, to say the least, and the last 'Jet' flight flew from Amritsar to Mumbai on April 18.

But as we look at the news and shrug our shoulders in indifference (after all they are other airlines), we fail to see the actual picture: that the suspension of Jet hits closer to home than expected. In Assam, more than 80 people who were employed with Jet, have lost their jobs.

Dhiren Das was a Jet employee who gave 15 years of service to the company but has been terminated by the cash-strapped company during lay-offs. "From Assam, there are ninety of us who lost jobs", he says, with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Das says that the employees of Jet in Guwahati, have not received a single penny for two months. "The closed down the airlines in Assam on the 10th of April. Prior to that, two flights were running daily from Guwahati. Now, operations have been completely suspended since 10 April."

Das said that the people who lost their jobs belong to all departments. "There are 80-90 of us who lost jobs. Ground staff, security personnel, security staff, loaders, engineers, drivers, cleaners...they were in several departments. We don't know when we will get our salaries."

"I am currently unemployed... it is hard to survive like this. But I am hopeful that they will give me my salary", he added.

The company is under a debt of Rs 8,500 crore. The lenders aren’t ready to loan them any more money to bail out the airline. The company has no money to pay even its employees or get fuel for the aircraft. Naresh Goyal had to step down from the post of chairman and it is believed that the company will be up for auction.