Charter & Fractional
NetJets Europe avoids layoffs while reducing pilot duty days
Shortly before the departure of NetJets chairman and founder Richard Santulli, NetJets Europe achieved its goal of reducing flight crew capacity by 60,000

Shortly before the departure of NetJets chairman and founder Richard Santulli, NetJets Europe achieved its goal of reducing flight crew capacity by 60,000 pilot duty days per year in response to declining demand for its fractional ownership and block charter services. The reductions have been made after a three-month consultation process that has persuaded significant numbers of flight crew to take one of the following five options: either a long- or short-term leave of absence, job sharing, part-time work or voluntary layoff/retirement. In the process, the company has avoided the need for any compulsory layoffs.

The most popular option, taken up by 381 of the 1,046 pilots employed by NetJets Europe, was job sharing. This involves two pilots’ teaming up so that each works one-year-on and one-year-off over a four-year period. Another 87 pilots agreed to take voluntary layoff/retirement.