Softening its stand, striking Air India pilots on Thursday welcomed Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh's offer to hold talks with them. They indicated that they are ready to return to work if the 101 sacked pilots are reinstated.

A day after Singh's fresh appeal to them to end their strike which has entered the 17th day, the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) sought an appointment with the minister to clarify issues so that we can bring an end to the current impasse .In a letter to Ajit Singh, IPG General Secretary open to hold talks with the Hon'ble minister and ministry officials to end the stalemate at the earliest.

The IPG letter came a day after Civil Aviation minister said the government may consider reinstatement of the pilots on a case-to-case basis if they return to work.