Emirates: Airline loses Dh1m lawsuit over double payment of pilot termination gratuities – News

Defendant earlier denied receiving initial honorarium

An Emirates airline is suing its former pilot for the refund of the Dh1 million gratuity it paid him at the end of his service, but the airline’s suit has been dismissed. The airline claims to have paid the pilot an end-of-service gratuity twice and wants him to return the money.

The airline’s management has filed a lawsuit against the pilot at the Abu Dhabi Family and Civil Administrative Claims Court, seeking repayment of Dh493,000 paid as end-of-service expenses. The company is also seeking an additional payment of Dh510,000 to the pilot due to a previous labor court order.

The company said in its lawsuit that it had hired the pilot to work for the company on an unlimited work contract with a base salary of Dh24,500. The pilot worked for the airline for 13 years. According to the plaintiff, the company then decided to terminate his service with the airline under his employment contract.

The airline noted that it had transferred Dh493,000 to the pilot’s bank account as an end-of-service gratuity following the termination of his contract. However, the man went on to file a labor lawsuit against the company, demanding labor payments and denying payments he had earlier received from the airline.

The company explained that the labor court had issued a ruling ordering the airline management to pay the pilot labor costs of Dh833,000, which were paid in execution of the court order. The airline said this was an additional Dh510,000 paid to the pilot.

The judge decided to dismiss the airline’s suit after hearing the parties and reviewing the First Labor Tribunal’s proceedings, appeals and cassation decisions.

In its ruling, the court said the Supreme Court decision prevented it from reopening the subject of the case.

The airline was told to pay the pilot’s legal fees.