Airlines working on no-poaching pact

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), the newly formed pressure group of domestic carriers, is planning a non-poaching agreement on licensed category technical staff and standardisation of salaries.

The FIA, which met for the second time here today, is believed to be working out the modalities of a non-poaching agreement on pilots, technicians, and engineers.

The body, formed last month, is also drafting guidelines for co-operation in sharing of human resources, ground handling, maintenance, and training.

When contacted, FIA Chairman and Air-India CMD Vasudevan Thulasidas declined to comment on the agreement, adding, "the airlines are in the process of identifying areas where technical know-how and human resources can be shared."

He further added, "We will have one more round of meeting tomorrow (November 4) as representatives of Indian Airlines, IndiGo and Air Deccan could not attend today."

The FIA was also identifying the problems being faced by the industry. "We have sought appointments with Ministry of Civil Aviation, Prime Minister's Office, law ministry and Ministry of Finance to take up our issues," he said.

Sources close to the development said the FIA would seriously look into standardisation of salaries to arrest poaching. Earlier, Air Deccan had accused Kingfisher Airlines of poaching on its trained staff, which, it said, had affected its operations.

"The sharing of surplus human resources can lead to operational efficiency and reduce costs. Some airlines have already started to share human and technical resources," Thulasidas pointed out.

Vijay Mallya, chairman & managing director of Kingfisher Airlines, said, "Poaching is still there in the Indian aviation industry."

GoAir Managing Director Jeh Wadia and President of Air Sahara Alok Sharma said the meeting had adopted a new logo for the FIA, denoting unity among airlines.

Sources said the association had decided to set up an executive committee and committees for technical, safety, airport, regulatory and financial issues.

It would adopt a structure on the lines of an international organisation like Airlines European Association.