1,000 Jet Airways pilots may go on strike from April 1

New Delhi : Agitated over the non-clearance of salary dues, over 1,000 pilots of Jet Airways threatens that they will stop offering service from April 1. 

"A part of the expected interim funding from State Bank of India (SBI) was supposed to be actioned on March 29. Unfortunately, the fund transfer has not taken place, hence no update on salary payment from the management. The collective decision of pilots taken at Mumbai and Delhi open house effective April 1, 2019, IST prevails," the National Aviators Guild, the Registered pilots'' union of Jet Airways said in a statement.

"If there is no proper clarity on resolution process for salary payment by March 31, then Jet Airways pilots will stop flying from April 1," the statement added.

A consortium of lenders under the State Bank of India agreed last week to infuse Rs. 1,500 crore into the beleaguered airline as an interim arrangement till they find a suitable investor for Jet Airways by the end of June quarter.

Naresh Goyal, the founder Chairman of Jet Airways is facing the worst financial crunch of its 25-year presence and he has been charged with more than one billion dollars of debt.

The Jet carrier has delayed payments to banks, suppliers, and aircraft lessors some of which have begun terminating lease deals.

The airline is reportedly down to operating 150 flights a day from 450 at full capacity with a third of its 120-plane fleet grounded.

Following cash crisis, Jet Airways has grounded many planes and also defaulted on repayment of debt, including External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs).