Another pilots' strike may hijack AI's revival plans

New Delhi:Air India's revival and travel plans of passengers hang in balance as yet another strike looms large on the crisis-ridden airline. Simmering discontent between the pilots of erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines has reached a flashpoint with AI pilots currently holding a ballot on whether they should go on a strike over the merged airline's decision to allow their IA counterparts to also fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliners that are yet to join the fleet.
The government is yet to decide whether the almost bankrupt airline can afford to take delivery of these planes. IPG has moved court against the management decision and sources say could give a strike notice in a couple of days. AI pilots sent on deputation to its budget carrier , AI Express, have already started reporting sick, something that has led to flight cancellations in recent past. This agitation, a senior pilot said, could engulf AI too.
IA pilots had earlier this year gone on strike to seek wage parity with their AI counterparts. They resent the fact that AI pilots get fixed pay for 80 hours irrespective of the number of hours they actually fly for while IA pilots get paid for actual hours flown - a number that has seen a sharp decline in past few years. They had demanded some IA pilots be sent for 787 training so that the remaining can have more flying hours - and hence pay.
31/10/11 Times of India

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

Categories: Air India Oct 2011