New Delhi: Drop in recruitments in the aviation sector is a "minor hiccup" and "the industry will bounce back" in a few months, say leading aviation training institutes here.

"The layoff will largely affect individuals. The institute will not be affected much. This is just a minor hiccup in the aviation industry," Sameer Walia, vice-president (communications) of Frankfinn Management Consultants, said on Thursday.

India's leading private sector airline Jet Airways on Wednesday announced it would retrench around 1,900 employees to cut operational costs. More than 800 people have already been given the pink slip.

Jet's announcement came soon after the company entered into a strategic partnership with rival Kingfisher Airlines.

"These airlines will survive. Although I do not know of anything in the contracts, I hope the laid off personnel will be absorbed once the airlines are in a better position. From the current scene, I feel they (airlines) will provide job-ops for retrenched staff later," Walia added.

Dismissing the notion that the laid off staff were helpless, Walia said: "Many international airlines like Emirates and others in Saudi Arabia were recruiting and specially looking for Indian candidates.

"Our students are trained in aviation, travel and hospitality. While there may be small step-down from aviation - with experience on their side they'll be fine - even hospitality and travel industry has its doors open," he said.

Many other aviation schools here have declared that this was a "minor setback and recruitments were on as usual".

"Airlines are most essential in this era when saving time during travel is so important. The occasional slump in the industry can be dealt with," said Pammi Talwar of the Air Hostess Training Institute in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar.

"Just two days ago, Jet Airways recruited two girls for ground staff and one for flying staff who left for Mumbai for training - they are fine. Other students need not worry either," she said.

Talwar added: "This is similar to what happened during the 9/11 terror attacks, when private airlines in India faced a crunch. But like then, the industry will bounce back - hopefully in a few months." IANS