Spicejet, MDLR pull out; Blow to private airlines' strike call

New Delhi: In a further blow to private airlines' strike call on August 18, budget carrier Spicejet today broke ranks and decided to operate all flights on that day leaving only major players Jet and Kingfisher on course for the unprecedented stoppage.
The Spicejet announcement came hours after regional player MDLR also said it will not join the stir, a day after Indigo announced it was pulling out of the strike in the backdrop of the government threatening to crack the whip on the private airlines to protect passengers' interest.
Spicejet will operate full service on Aug 18 and not join the strike call given by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), its official said tonight. It accounts for about 13 per cent of the overall passenger traffic.
With state-owned Air India operating as scheduled, the airlines which will function on August 18 account for about half the air passenger traffic. The strike call for suspending flight operations was given by FIA to protest high taxes on jet fuel and airport charges.
Regional player MDLR Airlines, which is not a FIA member, has written to FIA secretary general Anil Baijal it would not join the stir.
Spicejet CEO Sanjay Aggarwal said he was optimistic that the talks with the government would lead to a resolution of the problems.
02/08/09 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2009, MDLR Aug 2009, SpiceJet Aug 2009