Airlines strike may not take off

Mumbai: Barely a day after some fierce sabre-rattling, the private airlines' combat plan to arm-twist the government by suspending all domestic
flights on August 18 ran out of fuel. Late on Saturday night, low-cost airline IndiGo pulled out of the strike while the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) sobered down to a more conciliatory stance, with all private airlines continuing to accept bookings. ( Watch )
"We should all engage in a dialogue with the ministry. IndiGo will be operating its normal scheduled service on August 18," said Aditya Ghosh, president IndiGo in a late-night statement. IndiGo controls about 14 % of domestic market share.
The government, which has stuck firmly to its guns, is however, taking no chances. Air India has chalked out contingency plans to deploy 430-seater B747s on routes like Mumbai-Delhi, so that air travellers are not stranded. Approximately 1 lakh passengers board about 1,200 domestic flights across airports in India in 18 operational hours between 5 am and 11 pm. "Air India's regular scheduled flights and additional special flights mounted on August 18 will operate a total of about 25,000 to 30,000 seats," said an airline spokesperson.
The airline plans to do this by putting out three to five additional aircraft, which will include wide-bodied aircraft like B747 and B777. The most popular domestic route-the Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai sector-sees about 90 flights a day being operated by 120-seater A320s, B737s. One 430-seater B747 flight would be equal to about four A320 flights. Air India pilots' unions have announced their support to the management's decision, saying that they will operate all additional flights and cancel leave on August 18.
02/08/09 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2009