Notwithstanding the announcement of calling off the strike, a majority of the agitating Air India pilots have not resumed duty yet, leaving the flight operations disrupted on the 5th day of the stir today. Only 23 of the 180 executive pilots, who have been agitating against the cut in productivity-linked incentives (PLI), have reported for duty after Capt V K Bhalla, representative of the protesting pilots, announced that they were calling off the strike in deference to government's decision to maintain status quo on cost cutting measures. Hectic discussions continued late in the evening at the Airlines House, headquarters of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, between the pilots and Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav.
Air India issued an order keeping in abeyance the controversial Sept 24 order on cutting the PLI allowance "until a Board Sub-Committee comprising the CMD, Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser of the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Joint Secretary of the Civil Aviation Ministry examine all issues and submit its recommendations to the Board". Capt R L Mathur, an executive pilot who was part of the talks in the Airlines House, announced later that all pilots would be reporting fit and resuming duty "right away". "This direction will apply to pilots all over the country," he said. Air India decided to operate six long haul international flights tomorrow while cancelling the Mumbai-New York and Delhi-New York flights, the airline sources said in Mumbai. Mathur said the CMD has "assured us very clearly that all problems raised by the executive pilots will be considered and that he would take personal interest in the matter".
He said the pilots would first report to Air India doctors for fitness certificates for which special arrangements were being made in Safdarjung and at the IGI Airport, Delhi. "The pilots will join duty as soon as possible," he said. Facing threat of action, the Air India pilots called off their agitation in the morning saying they had received assurances that there would be status quo on the decision relating to cut in their incentives and allowances. "The agitation is being called off in view of the assurances by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that status quo will continue on issues," Capt Bhalla said.
Bhalla also participated in the talks at the Airlines House. With about 200 pilots reporting sick as a mark of protest over Air India's decision to cut their productivity- linked incentive (PLI) and allowances, over 240 flights were cancelled and the national carrier is estimated to have incurred a loss of over Rs 100 crore. "I apologise to the passengers for the inconvenience caused to them due to the agitation," Bhalla said asking the pilots to join work immediately. Bhalla also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Patel for intervening in the matter. Government had issued an ultimatum to the pilots to resume duty from midnight last night or face action.
Air India issued an order keeping in abeyance the controversial Sept 24 order on cutting the PLI allowance "until a Board Sub-Committee comprising the CMD, Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser of the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Joint Secretary of the Civil Aviation Ministry examine all issues and submit its recommendations to the Board". Capt R L Mathur, an executive pilot who was part of the talks in the Airlines House, announced later that all pilots would be reporting fit and resuming duty "right away". "This direction will apply to pilots all over the country," he said. Air India decided to operate six long haul international flights tomorrow while cancelling the Mumbai-New York and Delhi-New York flights, the airline sources said in Mumbai. Mathur said the CMD has "assured us very clearly that all problems raised by the executive pilots will be considered and that he would take personal interest in the matter".
He said the pilots would first report to Air India doctors for fitness certificates for which special arrangements were being made in Safdarjung and at the IGI Airport, Delhi. "The pilots will join duty as soon as possible," he said. Facing threat of action, the Air India pilots called off their agitation in the morning saying they had received assurances that there would be status quo on the decision relating to cut in their incentives and allowances. "The agitation is being called off in view of the assurances by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that status quo will continue on issues," Capt Bhalla said.
Bhalla also participated in the talks at the Airlines House. With about 200 pilots reporting sick as a mark of protest over Air India's decision to cut their productivity- linked incentive (PLI) and allowances, over 240 flights were cancelled and the national carrier is estimated to have incurred a loss of over Rs 100 crore. "I apologise to the passengers for the inconvenience caused to them due to the agitation," Bhalla said asking the pilots to join work immediately. Bhalla also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Patel for intervening in the matter. Government had issued an ultimatum to the pilots to resume duty from midnight last night or face action.
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