Jet Airways replaces head of operations following protests

On Friday, captain Nikhil Ved, erstwhile chief of flight operations, was made the head of planning and strategy

Jet Airways — the airline that caters to more than one in five domestic fliers — shifted its flight operations’ chief to another role.

The move comes less than a fortnight after more than a 100 Jet Airways flights were delayed or cancelled owing to a large number of its pilots calling in sick as a means of protest. (HT File Photo)

The move comes less than a fortnight after more than a 100 Jet Airways flights were delayed or cancelled owing to a large number of its pilots calling in sick as a means of protest.

Read: Flights disrupted as Jet Airways pilots fume over new roster, report sick

On Friday, captain Nikhil Ved, the erstwhile chief of flight operations — one of the key positions in an airline — was made the head of planning and strategy.

He was replaced by captain Sudhir Gaur.

Read: Aviation regulator looks to crack down on pilots feigning illness to miss work

Hindustan Times has a copy of the airline’s email regarding the changes in its hierarchy.

Airlines sources said the move stems from Ved’s inability to handle the crisis that left thousands stranded at airports across the country over Diwali weekend.

The pilots were contesting a new automated roster, which allegedly did not account for flight fatigue. The protest ended on November 2.

HT had reported that captain Ved sent out an email that warned pilots of ‘disciplinary action’ if they refused to fall in line.

Incidentally, days after the stand-off, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) put out a draft proposal stating that pilots would be grounded for good if they were caught faking illnesses to skip flight duty.

At the time of going to press, the Jet Airways’ spokesperson had not responded to HT’s queries.