As the strike by Air India pilots continues, the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has promised action in two months on a report which deals with some of their problems. He also renewed his appeal to them to return to work. The fresh appeal came even as flights of the state-owned airline's subsidiary AI Express continued to be affected, though not severely. Official sources said, the airline's curtailed international flight schedules operated normally. Talking to reporters after inaugurating a new terminal at Lucknow airport yesterday the Minister said the Dharmadhikari report on AI merger will be implemented in two months after having talks with the pilots.

Ajit Singh said, the government is making all efforts to resolve the situation and appealed to the pilots that they should think about the passengers. With the government offering unconditional talks once the striking pilots resumed duty, the Indian Pilots Guild has said it was ready to negotiate if sack orders of 71 pilots were revoked.