AI strike over, but cost airline Rs 100 cr

New Delhi: Air India operations are limping back to normalcy after pilots called off their four-day strike on Wednesday, striking a compromise with the national carrier’s management over cut in incentives. The airline has started taking fresh bookings and most of Air India’s flights, barring two non-stop flights to New York, are expected to operate on schedule from Thursday morning.
Tough talking by civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Tuesday, backed by a strong message from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s call for an early end to the pilots’ stir, finally did the trick. The Air India management also reiterated its decision to reconsider the proposed cut in allowances of pilots.
“I have full faith on the assurances given by our aviation minister. If the minister says that PLI will be paid, then we trust him. We are going to call off our strike with immediate effect,” said senior executive pilot VK Bhalla, who spearheaded the agitation. Initially , there were reports that some executive pilots will continue to report sick, but representatives of pilots confirmed that the strike was over now.
Air India is estimated to have lost about Rs 100 crore in the last four days due to disruption of operation . Air India’s executive director (corporate communication ) Jitender Bhargava said that most of the pilots who were on sick leave were reporting to work.
01/10/09 Economic Times

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Categories: Air India Domestic Oct 2009, NACIL Oct 2009