The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Will their careers ever take off?

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Saturday, Oct 18, 2008
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Will their careers ever take off?

Staff Reporter

Students at airhostess institutes are shocked at the crisis that hit aviation sector

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: A file picture of students of an airhostess academy undergoing training in Bangalore. K.

Bangalore: They had spent huge amounts of money and joined training institutes with a dream of flying high. However, with the recent turn of events in the aviation sector, it seems that the dreams of several students in the various airhostess training academies in the city have been grounded. This supposed turn of fortunes of the industry has shocked the students.

Rohit Goel, Chief Operating Officer, Cloud9 Airhostess Training Institute, told The Hindu that despite the crisis, placements for the students would not be an issue. “Students who have graduated are gainfully employed in the industry. A few regional airlines are opening soon. Placements will not be an issue. This is just a phase and the industry will recover soon,” he said.

He said that since many institutes include training in hospitality, students could consider that sector. “Usually, the best students always opted for jobs in the airline industry and the other students chose the hospitality sector. Currently, the situation is win-win for the hospitality sector,” he added.

M. Sharathi Kumaar, Business Development Officer, Avalon Aviation Academy, said the slump will “sort itself out.” “Every sector has ups and downs. It is now the turn of the aviation sector. Students have expressed some apprehension. We have explained to them the situation and assured them that finding jobs would not be an issue,” he said.

However, students are anxious about their future in the industry. “It is a crisis situation for us. I went to attend an interview at the Bengaluru International Airport today and saw airhostesses protesting. It was a shock,” said Lavin C. Selvin, a diploma student.

He said that many students chose to join the training academies in the light of the boom in the aviation sector.

“We have invested a lot of money. We were promised good jobs at the end of our training. But freshers like us might not find good jobs,” he said.

Honey Vitto is another worried student. “The recruitment process seems to be a farce. Why would any airline, which has sacked experienced employees, hire graduates and diploma holders with no experience? I am worried about my future in the industry,” he said.

Gipson Mathew claimed to have few options left. “The bubble has burst and now most airlines are cutting down on recruitments. Students like me have been left in the lurch.”

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