Strike grows, AI back-up plan hit

New Delhi: With more pilots joining the strike called by the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA), Air India’s contingency plan of roping in senior executive pilots to help tide over the situation seems to be going out of hand.
Sources said 70 executive pilots, part of the group the airline was banking on, joined the 700 protesting pilots. The national carrier has now decided to suspend bookings for the next five days, a spokesperson said.
Pilots protesting outside the now-sealed ICPA office near the domestic terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport said the protest would grow if their demands were not met. “There is no chance we will come down at this point. This is like chemotherapy for the cancer created by the management, which has gone beyond the realm of any reason now,” an AI Captain said.
The carrier is suffering a loss of Rs 4 crore daily. “Most of the executive pilots reported sick on Thursday,” said a pilot.
“The management’s action of sealing the ICPA offices is illegal in the first place. Just saying they have de-recognised the union doesn’t mean much. They need to go through the legal procedure,” said another pilot.
29/04/11 Indian Express

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Categories: Air India Apr 2011