125 flights hit on day 5 of pilots' strike
Source: Agencies |
May 2, 2011, Monday
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AIR India pilots demanding more pay refused to work for a fifth day yesterday, defying a court order to end their strike and forcing the beleaguered national carrier to cancel three-quarters of scheduled flights.
The airline said the strike that began on Wednesday was now costing it around 12 million rupees (US$2.7 million) a day.
Air India canceled all but 40 of 165 scheduled flights yesterday, leaving thousands more passengers stranded around the country after similar cancellations each day since the strike began.
It said that while 90 percent of domestic routes were affected, international flights were still operating between India and the United States, Europe, China and the Middle East. The airline has been hiring chartered flights for some routes.
Last week, the Delhi High Court ordered the 800 striking pilots to call off their action, saying it was "brazen and smacking of sheer arrogance," and launched contempt of court proceedings on Saturday when they refused to go back to work.
The pilots are demanding higher pay, an investigation into alleged mismanagement leading to losses of over 160 billion rupees, and the removal of managing director Arvind Jadhav.
The Indian Commercial Pilot Association said on Saturday it had no choice but to continue its strike since neither the government nor Air India had invited the pilots for talks.
The airline has threatened to fire the striking pilots. Nine have already been let go and six suspended.
Other carriers were reportedly increasing fares as desperate Air India passengers looked for alternatives.
The airline said the strike that began on Wednesday was now costing it around 12 million rupees (US$2.7 million) a day.
Air India canceled all but 40 of 165 scheduled flights yesterday, leaving thousands more passengers stranded around the country after similar cancellations each day since the strike began.
It said that while 90 percent of domestic routes were affected, international flights were still operating between India and the United States, Europe, China and the Middle East. The airline has been hiring chartered flights for some routes.
Last week, the Delhi High Court ordered the 800 striking pilots to call off their action, saying it was "brazen and smacking of sheer arrogance," and launched contempt of court proceedings on Saturday when they refused to go back to work.
The pilots are demanding higher pay, an investigation into alleged mismanagement leading to losses of over 160 billion rupees, and the removal of managing director Arvind Jadhav.
The Indian Commercial Pilot Association said on Saturday it had no choice but to continue its strike since neither the government nor Air India had invited the pilots for talks.
The airline has threatened to fire the striking pilots. Nine have already been let go and six suspended.
Other carriers were reportedly increasing fares as desperate Air India passengers looked for alternatives.
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