The management of Air India toyed with the idea of suspending operations after talks with pilots failed this evening, but said it was keeping “all options open” after the Prime Minister’s Office intervened and asked the airline not to announce a lockout.

Till midnight on Monday, however, Air India’s website continued to show ‘Seats not available’ for all domestic and international flights until October 15. Tickets could be purchased for travel from October 16 onward.

Over 120 pilots reported sick on day 3 of their agitation today. Flights to the US, Europe and South East Asia were cancelled. Talks between AI Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav and executive pilots represented by Capt. V K Bhalla continued for three hours in Delhi, but remained inconclusive.

The Civil Aviation Ministry is likely to prevail upon the two sides to thrash out a deal tomorrow. Late in the evening, Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar said, “We advise the (AI) management to enter into a comprehensive dialogue with all sections of employees. This strike must end immediately in the interest of the public.”

Nambiar is meeting private airlines tomorrow to ensure they chip in to minimise the inconvenience caused to AI fliers as a result of the strike.

In a statement, AI warned that striking pilots would be dealt with “sternly”. Senior AI officials told The Indian Express that executive pilots who continued to report sick might be sacked or derostered.

“If this disease (strike) spreads like wildfire then we will have to control the situation,” CMD Jadhav said. “We are striving for survival and we are asking everybody to take a haircut. If we agree to the pilots’ demands, then how can we expect others to take pay cuts?”

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