Air India’s domestic operations hit as pilots strike work
27 Apr 2011
New Delhi: Much uncertainty is in store for air commuters over the coming days with pilots from Air India's domestic (erstwhile Indian Airlines) operations deciding to strike work from midnight of Tuesday-Wednesday. In a related development, Air India management today moved swiftly to derecognise the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) after declared their strike action illegal.
ICPA essentially represents pilots from pre-merger Indian Airlines.
Since midnight AI has cancelled around 20 flights. Of the 20 flights, around eight were cancelled at Delhi and 11 at Mumbai. Others were delayed by more than three hours.
"We have derecognised the ICPA, the strike is illegal and they have committed contempt of court. We are likely to move the court soon," senior AI officers informed the media. He also said ICPA offices in Delhi and Mumbai had been sealed early this morning.
To tide over the crisis, the AI management will bring in 150 management pilots -- executive pilots - to operate flights.
The strike action comes on the cusp of the peak travel season with summer vacations looming. "We did not want to inconvenience the public but the management has left us with no choice. The mismanagement that killed AI continues and we do not see any hope under the current management," said a senior pilot.
