Airport staff and passengers smiling again but Jet pilots under heat from High Court

Mumbai The Mumbai airport bounced back to normal on Monday, without any of the flight cancellations that had plagued it during the Jet Airways pilots’ strike.
The “sick” pilots reported back on duty, resulting in the return of the 62 domestic flights they ensure at the airport everyday, and of the estimated 12,000 passengers they cater to. The airline also operates 24 international flights at Mumbai airport, its key hub.
“None of Jet’s flights was cancelled today. All operations were normal,” said an airport spokesperson.
Passengers and airport officials were equally relieved. Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) had reduced by about 10 per cent, which would mean some losses in terms of navigational charges, said an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) that directly collects such charges from airlines.
Passengers were smiling once again as ticket bookings resumed for the first time since September 8.Many passengers were no longer bitter.
When the strike began, Jet had moved a division bench led by Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar, saying strike was illegal. The court had directed pilots to resume duty. When they did not comply with this order, Jet moved the court of Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud, alleging contempt of court.
When the strike began, Jet had moved a division bench led by Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar, saying strike was illegal. The court had directed pilots to resume duty. When they did not comply with this order, Jet moved the court of Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud, alleging contempt of court.
Today, when the matter came up for hearing, Jet told the court it wanted to withdraw the contempt petition, since the issue had been resolved amicably. But Justice Chandrachud observed that the pilots’ union had violated the Chief Justice’s order and the agitation had caused a lot of inconvenience to passengers.
Therefore, contempt proceedings would go on, the judge said.
15/09/09 ExpressIndia

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

Categories: Airports Sep 2009, Jet Airways Sep 2009