By Nicholas Yong

WHILE full-cost carriers grapple with falling passenger numbers, grounded planes and even no-pay leave, their low-cost rivals like Jetstar Asia are flying against the trend by recruiting more staff.

The budget-flight subsidiary of Australia's Qantas Airways, Jetstar yesterday announced a new part-time scheme for cabin crew, specifically targeting those with experience with other airlines.

The scheme was started with mothers in mind, to encourage them to return to the workforce by allowing flexible shifts.

Part-time crew can choose to work just 50 hours per week, as opposed to about 150 to 170 hours for full-time crew.

Twelve stewardesses under the first intake, representing some 10 per cent of Jetstar's total cabin crew, have already begun flying.

One of them is Ms Cecilia Ho, 34, who left the industry after seven years in order to have her first child.

Ms Ho said that the new scheme was 'ideal', as she could start working again and still be able to spend quality time with her son.

Jetstar hopes to have a mix of 80 per cent full time to 20 per cent part-time staff by the end of the year.

A further 25 prospective candidates are already waiting in the wings.

Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy Hawazi Daipi has praised Jetstar's initiative: 'This is an example of the kind of flexible work arrangements that the Manpower Ministry, together with our tripartite partners, promote and encourage.'

The Government has already been doing its bit through initiatives like the Work-Life Works or WoW! Fund, which helps employers introduce a work-life balance, with a focus on flexible work arrangements, for employees.

About 500 organisations and their employees have benefited from the fund since it was set up in 2004.

In addition to the part-time scheme, Jetstar will continue to recruit full-time crew. It has also stressed that current staff do not need to fear for their jobs.

'We are going to expand our network, and we need more people,' said Jetstar Asia's chief executive Chong Phit Lian. She noted that new markets are opening up and the airline is continuing to take delivery of new aircraft.

The carrier has also continued to see growth despite the economic downturn. In the first three months of this year, it saw an increase of 5 per cent to 10 per cent in the number of passengers carried, compared to the same period last year.

Other budget carriers - Tiger and Air Asia - have also seen an increase in patronage and are continuing to recruit staff to meet the demand.

Earlier this week, carriers here and in Malaysia were given the green light to operate new routes between Singapore and six destinations in Malaysia.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.