The Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Ajit Singh today asserted that the domestic flight operations are normal and the national carrier is carrying 26 thousand passengers daily from the beginning of this month. Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, he said that for Air India management the strike is over.

The national carrier is planning to hire pilots from domestic and international markets as the international traffic is around eleven thousand passengers daily which is two to three thousand less than the normal.

He said, 60 pilots are ready for flying and another 90 more new pilots are expected to be trained and would be ready for flying within six months.

Mr. Singh said that the national carrier will start flights to Hong Kong, Seoul and Osaka in August this year. In response to a question he said that Air India to get three Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft this month.

In response to a question on the ongoing pilots' strike, he made it clear there is no point in their coming back if they do not accept the Dharmadhikari report. He said pilots can return back to work without precondition.

In response to a question on the fate of terminated pilots, Mr. Singh said they will have to apply afresh. The Minister noted that the strike has already been declared illegal by the high court.

Mr. Singh said that he is on record in Parliament that there will be no victimisation if the striking pilots return back but they are not willing. On FDI in aviation, the minister said, discussions are on with the allies on the matter.