Air India cabin crew have refused to undertake standby duty for one another from June 15, after the airline stopped a decade-old system which allowed crew to voluntarily bid for flights to US and Canada, citing a DGCA rule. The rule, however, does not exist, according to the regulator.
On March 18 Air India, citing an order of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, stopped the self bidding system and allotted flights to crew saying it was introducing a new rest period schedule for them.
As per the new schedule, crew would get 26 hours rest before a long haul flight, 24 hours at the destination, and 52 hours on return to India. Prior to March 18, crew were given a 24 hour rest period before a flight, 48 hours at the destination, and 48 hours on return to Delhi plus 72 hours on return to their base in Mumbai.
Failing to convince the Air India management, the cabin crew approached Bombay High Court where a writ petition was filed against DGCA on April 23. The same day, DGCA wrote to Air India clarifying that the directive was applicable only for flights to Australia, where Air India does not operate.
10/06/13 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror
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On March 18 Air India, citing an order of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, stopped the self bidding system and allotted flights to crew saying it was introducing a new rest period schedule for them.
As per the new schedule, crew would get 26 hours rest before a long haul flight, 24 hours at the destination, and 52 hours on return to India. Prior to March 18, crew were given a 24 hour rest period before a flight, 48 hours at the destination, and 48 hours on return to Delhi plus 72 hours on return to their base in Mumbai.
Failing to convince the Air India management, the cabin crew approached Bombay High Court where a writ petition was filed against DGCA on April 23. The same day, DGCA wrote to Air India clarifying that the directive was applicable only for flights to Australia, where Air India does not operate.
10/06/13 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror
