Normalcy restored in AI operations, 18 flights take off

New Delhi, Oct 1 (PTI) With the striking pilots getting
back to work, operations of Air India returned to normal
Thursday with 18 of its flights taking off from the national
capital.

"Flight operations have returned to normal and 18 of our
morning flights have taken off for various destination as per
schedule," an airlines official said.

The airlines' flights to Southeast Asia operated as per
schedule. Air India also operated its Delhi-Frankfurt-Chicago,
Mumbai-Frankfurt-Chicago, Mumbai-London, Delhi-London,
Amritsar-London-Toronto and Ahmedabad-Frankfurt flights this
morning.

At check-in counters at the airport here, AI officials
offered passengers roses and apologised to them for the five
days of disruption due to the strike.

In an attempt to attract more passengers, the airlines
has planned to increase the number of seats offered on special
fares, the official said.

Flight operations started to return to normal late last
evening after agitating executive pilots started reporting to
work following an agreement with the management on keeping the
September 24 order regarding cut in their productivity-linked
incentive (PLI) in abeyance.

A three-member committee would look into the issues and
consult the pilots before any cut.

Protesting against the 50 per cent cut in PLIs, pilots
reported sick for their duties since last Saturday forcing the
airline to cancel over 400 flights. The airline incurred a
loss of Rs 100 crore due to the agitation. PTI SMJ
JVN