AI pilots will lose salaries,colleagues too may be hit

On day four of the strike,the airline operated only 20 per cent of the normal daily schedule on its domestic network with just 10 commanders and 25 unconfirmed pilots belonging to erstwhile Indian Airlines taking to skies. The airline took two Kingfisher planes on wet lease — a lease that includes flight and cabin crew — to operate trunk routes.

“The airline will firm the flying schedule for the next fortnight and start taking bookings,” said an airline spokesperson.

The airline added that pilots,along with engineers,were the highest paid in the aviation industry. The annual salary bill of around 1,600 pilots alone accounts for Rs 800 crore of the total wages of Rs 3,200 crore. So far,the airline has sacked nine pilots and suspended six.

The de-recognised union,Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association,which is leading the strike,has said they are ready to get fired or even go to jail. The pilots have set re-instatement of those sacked as a pre-condition for talks with the management.

The Delhi High Court has initiated contempt proceedings against the pilots for defying its order to return to work,which could result in six months’ sentence. The government,said sources,is awaiting the high court’s decision on Monday on the contempt plea moved by the management.

“That will largely determine the future course of action,” said a source.

In Mumbai,ICPA general secretary Rishab Kapur said pilots were disappointed that Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi had not engaged them in dialogue yet.

He claimed that no one from the management had approached the union for talks,although many pilots had made efforts via back channels to try and secure an appointment with the ministry. “This does not make sense. We have been sitting here on strike for four days and no one from the ministry or the government has taken cognizance of it. We want to go off strike,we want the ministry to initiate dialogue with us,” Kapur said. with ENS,Mumbai