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Thursday, Oct 01, 2009
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Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Oct 01, 2009 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version | Audio | Blogs |
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Airlines Logistics - Trade & Labour Unions Air India to be back in air gradually as pilots call off stir The agitation was called off after the Government’s ultimatum to the pilots on Tuesday to resume duty or face action. The pilots will receive their productivity-linked incentive for August by October 7. Our Bureau Mumbai/New Delhi, Sept 30 Even as the Air India pilots ended their four-day stir on Wednesday, it will take a while before the airline resumes normal operations. The airline will operate all long-haul flights from Thursday barring its two non-stop flights to New York from New Delhi and Mumbai. “The effective date of resumption of the flights will be taken once executive pilots, who have reported sick in the past few days, start reporting fit for duty,” said a statement. For domestic operations, Air India has drawn up a flight restoration plan ensuring normal operations on trunk routes with immediate effect with others to be restored at “the earliest”. Meanwhile, due to non-availability of pilots, 111 flights were cancelled in advance on Wednesday which will be “gradually reinstated”. Govt’s ultimatumThe agitation was called off after the Government’s ultimatum to the pilots on Tuesday to resume duty or face action from the management. They will be receiving their productivity-linked incentive (PLI) for August by October 7. The Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, had questioned the basis of the pilots’ agitation even after the management’s assurance to put on hold the decision to cut incentives/allowances. Earlier in the day, Captain V. K. Bhalla, representative of the protesting executive pilots, said, “The strike has been called off in view of the assurance given by the Civil Aviation Minister that status quo will continue on issues (PLI).” An Air India spokesperson said the pilots had started reporting for duty with flight bookings resuming in the afternoon. “The PLI cut order dated September 24 will be kept in abeyance till the committee submits its report to the management,” he said. On Sunday, after a meeting with the pilots, the management decided to form a committee with representatives from both sides to discuss the modifications in PLI. About 200 Air India pilots had reported sick in the last four days protesting against the decision to cut their PLI by 50 per cent and payment of flying allowance for three months. The agitation sent the carrier’s operations for a toss with 240 flights cancelled during the impasse. The financial loss to Air India is estimated at over Rs 100 crore. The last few weeks have been trying for customers who have had to cope with strikes by pilots of Jet and now Air India. They are now keeping their fingers crossed about smooth travel schedules during Diwali. Pilots are Air India’s best paid employees Minister urges Air India pilots to ‘see reason’ Inconclusive AI, pilots talks affect flights Air India cancels 13 domestic flights as 20 pilots report sick More Stories on : Airlines | Trade & Labour Unions
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