On Sunday, Air India withdrew job offers for around 180 trainee cabin crew members between the economic slowdown in the Indian aviation sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The airline has decided to not move ahead with the job offers for around 180 trainees who were supposed to join as cabin crew after finishing their training as the aviation industry has been adversely affected due to the coronavirus pandemic,” declared an airline official.
In a letter sent to one such trainee cabin crew member on July 6, the airline said, “Given the current aviation situation, it would not be possible for Air India to give any further training to you for employing your services.”
The letter also said, “Given above reasons, which are beyond the control of the company, it has been decided to discontinue your training arrangement and dispense with the offer of engagement with immediate effect.”
It further clarified that the bank guarantees furnished by the individual trainees at the time of joining were being returned.
India resumed domestic passenger flights from May 25 after a halt of two months due to ongoing lockdown.
Nevertheless, the airlines have been permitted to operate only a maximum of 45 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic flights. Occupancy rate in Indian domestic flights has been around 50-60 per cent from May 25.