AI cancels 90% flights; strike will not see another day, says HC

AI cancels 90 % flights; strike will not see another day,says HC

Air India on Monday cancelled 90 per cent of its domestic flights on the sixth day of the strike by its pilots even as all eyes were now on the Delhi High Court which will take up criminal proceedings against the agitators.

"We have curtailed 90 per cent of our domestic operations and plan to operate just 40 of the 320 daily flights. This curtailment is likely to continue till the strike is withdrawn," a Air India spokesperson said.

The airline management is sticking to its stand that they would hold "no talks with the striking pilots till get back to their work."

Pilots said they were open to the talks and will withdraw the strike if the management gives them assurances about the resolution of their grievances in a time-bound manner.

On Sunday, Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav sent an SMS to all airline employees asking them to persuade the pilots to return to work and the negotiating table, saying the issues they were raising "occurred many years ago, for which the current administration cannot be held responsible."

"Risking our airline's survival at this time is criminal," Jadhav said in his SMS. "We all condemn corruption in public life, and culprits must be punished", AI CMD said, adding "all actions spoken of (by the pilots) are unforgivable".

In Mumbai, pilots took out a candle-light march at Gateway of India on Sunday evening demanding immediate ouster of Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav, alleging that the management's unwillingness to invite them for talks was a part of his hidden agenda to shut down the airline and privatise it.

About 800 pilots, belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, have gone on strike. Of the total number of 1,200 pilots, 400 belong to the Indian Pilots Guild of the erstwhile Air India, mostly operating international flights.

The ICPA has been demanding pay parity with their Air India colleagues, better working conditions and demanding withdrawal of sack orders against their leaders.

Since the strike began on Tuesday, the AI management has sacked nine pilots including ICPA president A S Bhinder and general secretary Rishabh Kapur besides suspending six others.

Pilots' strike will not see another day: HC

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked striking Air India pilots to take a decision on resume work, saying "this strike will not see another day."

"You call off the strike, we will press the management to consider your demand," said a division bench of justices B D Ahmed and Beena Birbal, while hearing a plea for initiation of contempt proceedings against the pilots who have struck work since Tuesday last.

"This strike will not see another day," the bench observed, while asking the pilots to resume work on Monday afternoon.

The court asked senior counsel N K Kaul and K T S Tulsi appearing for Indian Commercial Pilots Association and their three office bearers to seek instructions from their clients and inform it about their decision about calling off strike by 2.15 p.m, when the courts resumes hearing on the contempt plea.

During their argument's, the counsel said the striking pilots "as of now" want the Air India management to revoke the derecognition of the ICPA and reinstate three of its office bearers, whose services were terminated last week in the wake of the strike.

"Whatever be the argument, it is clear contempt. You first withdraw the strike," the bench said.

The three ICPA office bearers, President A S Bhinder, General Secretary Rishabh Kapoor and Regional Secretary Amitesh Ahuja, had been issued notices last Thursday by Justice Geeta Mittal seeking their explanation as to why the contempt proceeding should not be launched against them for defying court orders to resume work.

The judge had also warned that ICPA property would be attached if the stir was not called off.

They were asked to be present before the court on Monday to answer the contempt charges.