AI pilots oppose new policy to travel economy class

Mumbai: Pilots and engineers are up in arms against the new Air India (AI) employee travel policy that makes it mandatory for every one to travel
economy class instead of business. While the airline says the decision was taken to cut costs in bad times, pilots feel travelling economy while on duty is not a great way to save money.
According to pilots, the Staff on Duty (SOD) travel--which involves travelling as passengers to a base from where they will then operate a flight--requires a minimum period of rest before they start flying on the sector. This, they feel, won't be possible if the crew reaches the base fatigued after hours of travel in economy class.
"In such a case, the airline would have to provide extra rest hours so that the crew is fit to fly,'' said a commander. "Providing extra rest would cost the airline as much due to additional requirement at the hotels,'' he added.
As per international norms, pilots travelling as passengers to operate a flight from another base are given the "most comfortable seat so that he/she can operate with minimum rest''. If not so, pilots are given more rest hours before they begin operations.
The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association and the Indian Pilots' Guild will meet the airline CMD Arvind Jadhav on Tuesday to discuss the issue.
AI pilots also said that economy class travel for Staff on Leave (SOL) is also subject to load rather than preference.
25/05/09 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: NACIL May 2009