Air Transport

Days after unveiling a wide-ranging alliance with rival Kingfisher Airlines, India's Jet Airways has issued layoff notices to hundreds of employees as it seeks to reduce losses.

A spokeswoman confirms that layoff notices have gone out mainly to recently hired flight attendants who were still on probation. Although the spokeswoman is not able to confirm how many employees are affected by the cuts, local media reports say that between 600 and 1,000 will leave the airline.

© AirTeamImages

The job cuts come just days after Jet announced a wide-ranging alliance with rival Kingfisher that will see the carriers codesharing and partnering in other areas.

The spokeswoman says the job cuts are not related to the Kingfisher tie-up, adding that they are due to the fact that Jet has been cutting some of its flights and slowing previously announced expansion plans. She says a formal announcement on the job cuts is expected soon.