SpiceJet employees have swords hanging over their jobs

Budget carrier SpiceJet, which is going through a rough phase, will take ‘tough decisions,’ if required, to rationalise its employee strength in accordance with its reduced fleet. SpiceJet Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sanjiv Kapoor has said that some ‘key decisions’ will be taken in the coming weeks.

The carrier’s workforce stood at about 5,700 last year, and it has now declined to about 4,500. But the airline is still overstaffed. According to a report published in The Economic Times, it is planning to reduce its workforce to 4,000 employees.

Kapoor also added that the airline will soon take a decision on whether to continue with the Bombardier Q400s in its fleet or not. He was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of India Aviation Summit.

SpiceJet had recently announced a change of guard in which its co-founder Ajay Singh joined its board media baron Kalanithi Maran stepped down. The beleaguered airline has been badly hit by increasing losses, flight cancellations, downsizing of fleet, and delay in payments of taxes and salaries. It has cancelled more than 2,000 flights since December last year.

Ajay has now said that he himself, along with some other investors, would invest Rs 1,500 crore to revive the airline.