The government has asserted that the striking Air India pilots should first report for duty and then come for talks. Taking a tough stand, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today reassured that government is ready to talk on anything after that.
The minister also asked the striking Air India pilots to apologise to passengers. He reminded the pilots that Air India is almost bankrupt and public money is being pumped in to revive the national carrier.
The minister said the process of revival is bound to see many problems and asked the airline employees to be patient. He said, pilots should firmly say their views but not inconvenience the passengers and make Air India lose credibility.
Ajit Singh said the government is mulling taking some aircraft on wet lease, as in such cases the planes come with a crew. He said that the government is also in touch with some retired pilots besides rationalising the flights operated by Air India.
Meanwhile,with the agitation by Air India pilots entering the fifth day today, the national carrier cancelled 16 flights from Delhi and Mumbai even as senior pilots sought the Prime Minister's intervention to end the impasse. Supporting the agitation, senior pilots wrote a letter to the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of AI and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying the demand of the pilots were genuine and they should be looked into.
About 200 pilots owing allegiance to the Indian Pilots' Guild IPG are on strike since Tuesday protesting rescheduling of training on Dreamliner and issues related to career progression.
Taking a tough stand, the Air India management had on Friday 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 asking it to cancel the licenses of 11 office bearers of the IPG whose services have been terminated.
The IPG has said that they are ready for talks and have sought time for a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh. The Minister has asked the pilots to return to work and assured them that their demands will be heard.
