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With the agitation by Air India pilots entering the fifth day today, the national carrier cancelled 16 flights from here and Mumbai even as senior pilots sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to end the impasse.
“16 of our flights originating from Delhi and Mumbai have been cancelled,” an AI spokesperson said.
Supporting the agitation, senior pilots wrote a letter to the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of AI and Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, saying the demand of the pilots was genuine and they should be looked into, sources said.
About 200 pilots owing allegiance to the Indian Pilots’ Guild have been on strike since Tuesday protesting rescheduling of their training on the Dreamliner and issues related to career progression.
Taking a tough stand, the Air India management had yesterday sacked 25 pilots. With this, the total number of pilots whose services have been terminated has gone up to 71.
AI has also written to the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asking it to cancel the licences of 11 office-bearers of the IPG whose services have been terminated.
The IPG has said they are ready for talks and have sought time for a meeting with the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Ajit Singh.
The Minister has asked the pilots to return to work and assured them that their demands will be heard.
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