As Jet Airways exits the runway, about 16,500 employees are looking for a safe landing.

SpiceJet has come to the rescue by absorbing more than 500 former employees of Jet Airways. These include about 100 pilots and is likely to hire more as SpiceJet continues to get additional aircrafts up in the air.

The Gurugram-based airline company will be adding about 22 Boeing 737s and five turboprop Bombardier Q400s to its fleet. These flights are being added in order to bridge the gap left by Jet Airways temporary halt of both its domestic and international flights.

SpiceJet will be giving the “first preference” to Jet Airways staff when it comes to recruiting new pilots and ground staff, noted Ajay Singh, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director in a statement.

As of now, SpiceJet has absorbed about 100 pilots, 200 cabin crew members and more than 200 technical professionals and airport staff.

“As we expand and grow, we are giving first preference to those who have recently lost their jobs due to the unfortunate closure of Jet Airways,” Singh said.

Just recently, the budget airline announced the addition of 24 new flights connecting Mumbai and Delhi. SpiceJet will also add flights from Mumbai to international destinations such as Dubai, Jeddah, Colombo, Riyadh, Bangkok, Kathmandu, and Hong Kong.

Even though the absorption of former Jet Airways employees might provide a temporary relief for some, the number of displaced employees runs in thousands. It remains to be seen how the remaining employees might land themselves an alternative job.