Day 5: Six more unions pledge support to striking AI pilots

New Delhi: The Air India pilots’ strike gained momentum on its fifth day on Sunday with six pilots’ union pledging support to the banned ICPA (Indian Commercial Pilots Association) which is spearheading the agitation, a news channel reported.
The national carrier has cut its domestic operations to 40 flights from its regular 165 for Sunday.
Out of 66 Air India domestic flights from Delhi, only 13 will operate today while from Mumbai, out of 55 flights of the airline only 9 will operate.
The total flight cancellations from the financial capital stood at 78.
Nearly 850 AI pilots are continuing their strike ignoring stern warning of sacking by the management and the Delhi High Court's decision to initiate contempt proceedings against them.
Pilots are on strike demanding fixed salary, a CBI probe into the mismanagement of the airline and the removal of its CMD.
The airline tried to put in place some alternative strategies to minimise hardships caused to hundreds of stranded passengers by taking two aircraft from Kingfisher Airlines on wet lease and flew a large number of them to Patna, Varanasi and Mumbai. Pilots are also made available in a wet lease arrangement.
Though earlier, there was speculation that Air India was in talks with Kingfisher to "loan" pilots to fly their aircraft. However, a Kingfisher spokesperson denied any such move.
01/05/11 PTI/ZeeNews

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Categories: Air India May 2011