ID :
82064
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 08:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/82064
The shortlink copeid
AI pilots stir continues, over 30 flights cancelled
New Delhi, Sep 27 (PTI) Air India Sunday cancelled
over 30 domestic and international flights operating out of
various cities with the agitation by its executive pilots
continuing for the second day, even as they refused to hold
talks till a directive to effect a cut in their
productivity-linked incentives (PLI) is withdrawn.
The national carrier cancelled 17 flights from the
national capital, five each from Mumbai and Chennai and four
from Kolkata.
"As per the contingency plan, we have cancelled
flights on those sectors which have low passenger load or on
which there are alternative flights, either by us or by other
airlines," an Air India official said.
"We informed the passengers about the cancellation of
flights and also made adequate arrangement of funds, so that
their is no shortage of funds in case they go for refund
claims," the official added.
The airlines had to cancel the flights as pilots did
not report to duty citing health reasons. However, Air India
officials in Mumbai maintained that they cancelled five
flights due to "technical reasons".
Captain V K Bhalla, a representative of agitating
executive pilots told PTI: "We will not go for any negotiation
until the management comes to a neutral platform,"
"By neutral platform I mean first the payment of the
allowances of all pilots, which is due for the last three
months and second the withdrawal of the directive for a up to
50 per cent reduction in PLIs," he said.
Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav was expected to meet the
agitating pilots in Mumbai on Sunday to "address their
concerns" and resolve the agitation.
"The airline should also roll back the up to 50 per
cent cut in Productivity-Linked Incentives (PLI) prior to any
negotiations," Bhalla said.
"The management has also not paid salary allowances of
both executive and line pilots for the past three months and
they should also be paid before calling the pilots at the
negotiation table," he added.
Bhalla claimed that the Air India management had
approached a few pilots based in Mumbai and ignored others in
Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.
A section of Air India executive pilots have not
reported for work since Friday night in protest against the
management's decision to cut PLI by up to 50 per cent as part
of the airline's turnaround plan.
Keeping in view the agitation by the executive
(senior) pilots, the airline reduced its seat availability
from 37,000 to 22,000 per day," Air India spokesperson
Jitendra Bhargava said. PTI IAS
over 30 domestic and international flights operating out of
various cities with the agitation by its executive pilots
continuing for the second day, even as they refused to hold
talks till a directive to effect a cut in their
productivity-linked incentives (PLI) is withdrawn.
The national carrier cancelled 17 flights from the
national capital, five each from Mumbai and Chennai and four
from Kolkata.
"As per the contingency plan, we have cancelled
flights on those sectors which have low passenger load or on
which there are alternative flights, either by us or by other
airlines," an Air India official said.
"We informed the passengers about the cancellation of
flights and also made adequate arrangement of funds, so that
their is no shortage of funds in case they go for refund
claims," the official added.
The airlines had to cancel the flights as pilots did
not report to duty citing health reasons. However, Air India
officials in Mumbai maintained that they cancelled five
flights due to "technical reasons".
Captain V K Bhalla, a representative of agitating
executive pilots told PTI: "We will not go for any negotiation
until the management comes to a neutral platform,"
"By neutral platform I mean first the payment of the
allowances of all pilots, which is due for the last three
months and second the withdrawal of the directive for a up to
50 per cent reduction in PLIs," he said.
Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav was expected to meet the
agitating pilots in Mumbai on Sunday to "address their
concerns" and resolve the agitation.
"The airline should also roll back the up to 50 per
cent cut in Productivity-Linked Incentives (PLI) prior to any
negotiations," Bhalla said.
"The management has also not paid salary allowances of
both executive and line pilots for the past three months and
they should also be paid before calling the pilots at the
negotiation table," he added.
Bhalla claimed that the Air India management had
approached a few pilots based in Mumbai and ignored others in
Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.
A section of Air India executive pilots have not
reported for work since Friday night in protest against the
management's decision to cut PLI by up to 50 per cent as part
of the airline's turnaround plan.
Keeping in view the agitation by the executive
(senior) pilots, the airline reduced its seat availability
from 37,000 to 22,000 per day," Air India spokesperson
Jitendra Bhargava said. PTI IAS
