Jet Airways cancels 14 flights as pilots report sick

India's carrier Jet Airways cancelled at least 14 flights on Sunday after a few pilots, protesting unpaid salaries, called in sick, according NDTV.

The loss-making Jet Airways has been defaulting on the payment of salaries to its senior administration, pilots and specialists since August because of an extreme money crunch.

Jet Airways has partially paid the salaries of these staff members for September even as the full salaries of October and November stay unpaid.

According to Source, "14 flights have been cancelled so far because of a few pilots reporting sick. They are protesting against the non-installment of salaries and the attitude of the National Aviator's Guild (NAG) in taking up the issue with the management," the source said.

The NAG is a  local pilots body of Jet Airways, representing more than a 1,000 pilots. Jet Airways said, flights were cancelled over an "unexpected operational condition" and not because of the protest by pilots.

"A few pilots have additionally written to Chairman Naresh Goyal, saying they are unwilling to work this way," reportd  NDTV.

Jet Airways said the travelers of the dropped flights were informed about the status of their flights via SMS alerts and that they were re-suited or compensated.   

Jet Airways said, "The company continues to enjoy the complete support and cparticipation of every one of its workers, including pilots and builds, independently and through their individual delegate bodies, who have extended their solidarity and full support to the carrier."

Jet Airways additionally said that the administration of the private carrier is in a "continous dialogue" with the pilots and different groups to talk about and resolve the continuous issues including the payment of pay rates.

"As expressed before, Jet Airways is committed to meet its obligations and has been dynamically addressing this issue with the employees," the announcement by the aircrafts included.