AI pilots’ strike: PMO talks tough,partial lockout on table

On directions from the PMO,Air India has stopped taking any fresh booking until Tuesday for domestic and regional international flights operated by erstwhile Indian Airlines. It has also scaled down operations by 18 per cent,pulling out 45 flights and flying jumbo jets on key metro routes like Delhi-Mumbai. Day Two of the strike saw cancellation of around 60 flights,including those to Kathmandu,Kabul,Singapore and Dubai. Around 69 executive or non-unionised pilots joined the stir by reporting sick today.

Taking a tough stance,Civil Aviation minister Vayalar Ravi backed AI’s decision to fire union leaders. “Nobody can dictate terms to the government,especially a few pilots. They are the highest paid people in this country and … what they do is to try to threaten the government and dictate terms to Air India,” Ravi said. He appealed to the striking pilots and other employees to cooperate and help the airline out of this crisis.

AI had repeatedly warned the government of industrial action while seeking its approval on wage rationalisation as part of its turnaround plan.

Even as the airline roped in its executive pilots to fly aircraft,operations are likely to be hit harder when the current set of pilots meet their maximum mandated flight hours. “Air India pays its deputy general managers or executive pilots an extra Rs 75,000 a month to be there in full force during such contingencies,” said an airline executive. “We may press in retired pilots eligible to fly.”

AI claimed that the agitation is resulting in revenue losses of Rs 4 crore a day. Earlier in the day,the Delhi High Court pulled up pilots and asked them to resume duties. The Chief Labour Commissioner,who was approached by the AI management,too asked pilots to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

The erstwhile Indian Airlines’ pilots’ union,Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA),which was de-recognised on Wednesday,demanded re-instatement of its sacked six union leaders and de-sealing of its offices as a pre-condition for talks. On the second day of the strike,the tally of those sacked rose to eight,including two management pilots. In all,six were suspended. A section of agitating pilots struck work Tuesday midnight demanding pay parity with their counterparts who fly bigger planes on international routes. The government has already appointed a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to look into staff integration issues which is expected to submit its report in five months.