Terming it as "hard decisions that are inevitable" in the difficult market conditions, Jet Airways today said that it was terminating the services of around 800 flight attendants that were recently recruited as part of the planned expansion programme.

Jet Airways also said in a statement that the aviation industry in India, a $6 billion turnover industry, is expected to lose $2 billion in 2008-09. "The economic viability of the industry has been severely affected by the record high fuel prices and most recently due to the crisis of the financial markets globally and the downturn in traffic," the company said in a statement.

Jet Airways had planned for a continuous growth in the domestic aviation market and the implementation of the first phase of its international expansion programme. 

However, the domestic market has declined by double digit figures in recent months. Apart from this, Jet Airways’ long haul expansion had to be pruned down due to international developments. "Also in these difficult times, the number of flights Jet Airways will be offering in Winter schedule will be approximately 15 per cent lower than originally planned," the company’s statement said.

However, the company clarified that its decision to lay off around 800 personnel was not as a result of its alliance with Kingfisher Airlines. "We wish to clarify that the reconsideration of our operations has been ongoing for some time now and this adjustment in personnel numbers did not result from the planned alliance with Kingfisher Airlines," Jet Airways said.

As painful as it may be for every single person affected, this adjustment was inevitable in the greater interest of regaining viability of Jet Airways and to securing its economic health, the company added.

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