AI pilots could hijack festive cheer

“The decision has been taken by executive pilots of Air India against Air India’s management which has reduced the pilots’ salary by 70 per cent — 50 per cent by office order and another 20 per cent through hidden points,” said Capt. Bhalla. “Deliberations are on between union pilots in Delhi,Mumbai,Chennai and Kolkata,and we are getting positive reactions from then.”

Asked if the pilots had given any prior notice to the AI management like Jet Airways pilots did recently,Bhalla said Air India had not bothered to give pilots any notice on pay cuts.

Air India spokesperson Jitendra Bhargava said the airline had “no intimation of any strike by the pilots.” In Mumbai,AI CMD Arvind Jadhav said,“Our rostering department has not received any calls from pilots refusing flights. All our flights till tomorrow morning are on schedule.”

Sources in AI’s management,however,told The Indian Express that till 10 pm,“no confirmation” had been received from pilots rostered to operate at least 10-12 flights,and some disruptions were expected.

Executive pilots are non-unionised employees holding managerial or executive positions in Nacil,and cannot legally go on strike. “The pilots have taken a decision to go on sick leave as they are not in a state of mind to work due to the salary cuts,” said an airline official close to the developments.

Most of the agitating pilots belong to the erstwhile domestic carrier Indian Airlines,which was merged with the old Air India under Nacil. “Executive pilots make up only a small part of (the original) Air India’s pilot strength,” said a source.

It was not immediately clear if Air India executive pilots would join the strike. But the pilots union of Air India,the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association,came out in support of the striking pilots,saying it will “not accommodate flights on which ICPA’s pilots are not rostered”.

A senior AI official told The Express in Mumbai that the total strength of executive pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India was about 320,roughly 23 per cent of (the merged) Air India’s total pilot strength.

On Wednesday,AI announced cuts in the PLI/flying allowance of top management,officers and executive pilots up to 50 per cent as a part of its turnaround plan. The biggest cut was for those with a PLI of over Rs 2 lakh. The cuts were expected to save cash-strapped AI Rs 580 crore annually.

AI’s management is scheduled to meet executive pilots from the erstwhile Indian Airlines on Septemebr 30,and those from the erstwhile Air India the next day.