AI Stir: 10 Agitating Pilots Sacked, Union De-recognised


New Delhi/Mumbai, May 8 (PTI): In a crackdown, Air India today sacked ten agitating pilots, de-recognised their union and sealed its offices as around 160 of them failed to join duty, leading to cancellation of five international flights since midnight.

With Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh terming their agitation "illegal", airline sources said more severe action was to follow if the pilots did not get back to work by 1800 hours today.

Flights on Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Chicago, Mumbai-Newark and Mumbai-Hongkong via Delhi sectors were cancelled "due to unavailability of pilots," an Air India spokesperson said.

With about 160 pilots not having joined duty, the services of at least ten pilots, including office bearers of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), which is leading the agitation, were terminated, the sources said.

While the IPG has been de-recognised, the sources said its offices in Mumbai and Delhi were sealed. A section of Air India pilots owing allegiance IPG are agitating over the rescheduling of Boeing 787 Dreamliner training and matters relating to their career progression.

The Civil Aviation Minister termed the strike as "illegal" and said the management of the national carrier would take appropriate action against those involved in the stir.

"They are reporting sick. They have not given any notice for any strike. So whatever the Air India management rules and regulations, action will be taken accordingly," Singh told reporters.

"The pilots have been told to return to work by today evening. And if they don't, the management will take stern action against them," the Air India spokesperson said. The airline management has also started sending doctors to the houses of pilots who were reporting sick, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-backed pilots' body has said that it is open to negotiations with the management. "We are open to negotiations at any given time," Indian Pilots Guild president and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad told PTI.

The Civil Aviation Minister said the pilots went on sick leave in the midst of their talks with the management of Air India which has led to cancellation of flights.

Noting that Air India is currently going through a turbulent period and crores of rupees of public money were being infused to run the carrier, Singh said this was not the right time for such protests.

Agreeing that every section of employees had grievances and there were ways to find a solution, the Minister said the "strike is illegal."

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Louis, Kuwait

    Wed, May 09 2012

    My family wanted to travel by Kuwait Manglore flight yesterday. But it got canceled. It's been rescheduled today at 11 AM. The staff was very co operative n took all excess luggage free. Even we dumped all hand bags. Now the flight has been boarded. Despite all these I will travel by Italian Air India Express. We love our country.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar., M

    Wed, May 09 2012

    Air India Pilots
    Striking 'Lots'
    Talk only of their 'Guild'
    Never allowing Economy to 'Build'!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Ryan Pinto, Mangalore

    Wed, May 09 2012

    Air India is at the mercy of tax payers money, and the irony is the very same tax payer is made to go through hell, for the outrageous behaviour of these pilots, if they are unhappy be professional, resign and seek a suitable airline who will employ these jerks. These criminal pilots know no airline other than Air India not even our private players will dance to their whimps and fancies. The 30,000 crore bailout should be halted for now and an undertaking for good conduct and behaviour should be implemented to avoid such misadventures in the future.

    At the onset begin with disbanding all these Unions, which are more destructive than constructive. Mr. Jitendra Awadh President of the Indian Pilots Guild, the union of the airline pilots of Air India should speak to the erring pilots, as his godfather Pawar is part of the government, attempts must be made to streamline work and hold negotiations if any resentment.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Wed, May 09 2012

    There are some other Airlines Employees went on strike just because they were not paid their salaries for few months which is some how justifiable. But going strike against Dream liner’s Training Program means just non sense decision by AI Pilot Guild. In Aviation Industry if any Air Craft is idle for few days’ means their business will never run on profit. Indian Government tried in many ways to keep afloat AI even though it never seen any profitable balance sheet for almost a decade now. But our own Air India Employees never understand the importance of flying the Air Craft for running the show

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Frederick Pinto, Shirva

    Wed, May 09 2012

    These striking pilots are making the nation loose billions of rupees for being sick leave, lazy and irresponsible. Government must take strong action against these very high paid pilots. Warn all the pilots to report on duty immediately and sack every polots that remains on strick. Air India is sinking now will lift up fast...!

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • sham, mangalore/abudhabi

    Wed, May 09 2012

    PLEASE CHANGE ALL AIRINDIA STAFF AND SAVE PUBLIC MONEY...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Wed, May 09 2012

    Sack the administrative staff first. Then the Airline may develop...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • A. S. Mathew, U.S.A.

    Tue, May 08 2012

    AI is buying the latest aircrafts like Boeing 787, but the ministry of Aviation must pray for a miracle to have angeles in the cockpit, and robots in all other places because they are not influenced by the ideology of class war and routine strikes. No 1 airline operation in the world in the highest number of strikes, and creating hardship and heartaches and for the paid passengers down through the years.

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohammed Anwar, Dubai

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Nagesh Nayak Mam,

    Why you are always against Ms.Sonia Gandhi and congress. It looks like you have a perverted mind. Always be rational in your thinking. Donot have prejeudice feelings. I am a regular reader of your comments. Your comments make all readers sick. Be enlighten

    DisAgree [2] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jacob Mendonsa, Bangalore

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Air India pilots are the worst irresponsible people on the earth.They do not understand the difficulties faced by the pssengers,including children & infants,when flights are cancelled & stranded at the Airports for days together.All the agitating pilots in future should be sacked & never to be re-instated.No negotiations to be conducted in this connection.India is wasting a lot of tax payers money on this loss making Airline purely due to the negligence of these pilots.Me & most of my friends never travel on this Airlines due to the rude attitude of these Pilots for so many years.This Airline should be sold to private parties immediately without any delay.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jacob Mendonsa, Bangalore

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Air India pilots are the worst irresponsible people on the earth.They do not understand the difficulties faced by the passengers,including children & infants,when flights are cancelled & stranded at the Airports for days together.All the agitating pilots in future should be sacked & never to be re-instated.No negotiations to be conducted in this connection.India is wasting a lot of tax payers money on this loss making Airline purely due to the negligence of these pilots.Me & most of my friends never travel on this Airlines due to the rude attitude of these Pilots for so many years.This Airline should be sold to private parties immediately without any delay.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lavin Noronha, Paladka/Bahrain

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Haaaahaaha ! THERE YOU GO MAAMU AGAIN. IF ITALIAN LED GOVT IN SO BAD, WHAT ABOUT YOUR "PARTY WITH A DIFFERENCE " GOVT DID IN KARNATKA. WHEN WHOLE OF KARNATAKA IS REELING UNDER DROUGHT YOUR SHAMELESS MINISTERS ARE ENJOYING SCOTCH IN RESORTS AND SOME MINISTERS ARE PORN STARS. POWER MINSTER IS ASKING TO SWITCH OFF FANS. BEFORE YOU POINT AT OTHERS PLEASE KEEP YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER. DESPITE HUGE SCAMS, MMS GOVT HAS GIVEN INDIA THE TAG OF "EMERGING SUPER POWER".

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Paresh Mehta, Mulki/A'mbad

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Mr.ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    If they sack experienced pilots - is it safe to travel thru Air-India in near future.? To sit and comment from too far is bit easy.

    DisAgree [12] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rakesh shetty, mangalore

    Tue, May 08 2012

    THIS IS VERY BAD. AIR INDIA EXPRESS ALWAYS GOOD ONLY IN PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK ALSO TAKING POOR PEOPLE LIVES.

    ITALY LADY TEAM SHOULD WAKE UP ATLEAST FOR THE SAKE OF INDIANS.

    THIS SHOWS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NEGLIGENCE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. BUT NO ACTION.

    BAN THIS WORST FLIGHT AUTHORITIES AND CANCEL ALL FLIGHTS.

    DisAgree [49] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Tue, May 08 2012

    The Tata-SIA consortium and the Hindujas are in the fray for the 40 per cent government stake in Air-India. The financial bids are likely to be submitted by the end of July.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • P.A.SHANU, Mangalore

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Small airline companies are making profits every year but Air India has become a burden for Indians from years. It was recording more losses every year.

    Scrap Air India and convert it as a
    museum thus save Idians from more loans and losses.

    Air India has proved as a shame for India.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Report says, AIR INDIA(A LOSS MAKING AIRLINE IN THE EARTH!!!) Pilots encountered mass sick....Is there any ghost with them?or due to FOOD POISION!!??These pilots should be sacked one by one who are taking Indian Flag carrier for a ride not once but several times.The best ideas is disinvestment of Air India....A WHITE ELEPHANT.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohammed Anwar, Dubai

    Tue, May 08 2012

    The strike of Air India Pilots is illegal. When the country is passing through a turbulant period, it is high time that the pilot should consider the nation's interest as paromount rather than personal interest. It is unfortunate that the AI Pilots guild resort to strike in the middle of a negotiation. All the AI Pilots are requested to join duty immediately in every body's interest. Failing which the AI management might take stringent action. Before it is too late rise and awake. Lest face the consequences eventually no Pilots will have public sympathy.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • nagesh nayak, bangalore

    Tue, May 08 2012

    THIS IS THE OUTCOME OF ITALIAN LED CONGRESS GOVT.

    FOR FEW JAT VOTES ONE AJITH SINGH WAS AWARDED CIVIL AVIATON MINISTRY.

    AFTER HE TOOK OVER PROBLEMS ESCALTED & NEVER BOTHERED TO RECTIFY.

    ALL MINISTERS IN ITALIAN LED UPA ARE WORKING ONLY FOR SELF & NEVER WORKED FOR COMMON MAN , COUNTRY.

    CAN PSUEDOS GIVE SITABLE REPLY?

    DisAgree [81] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bennet Vas, Mangalore

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Brilliant move, this is the only language that these highly paid and pampered "sarkari" Airline Drivers will understand. For too long they have hijacked the management and got whatever they asked for. Who will compensate for the time and money of the passengers who were left high and dry on account of these chaps "reporting sick" ?? With the infrastructure and Governement that Air India has it should have been one of the most profitable airlines in the world, on the contrary the tax payers money is used to pay fat salaries to their flying as well as ground staff.

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • jamil ahmed, udupi/qatar

    Tue, May 08 2012

    Good job done at least finally the ill-fated Air India management has realized this scenario. Finally last but not the least due to huge losses, is Air India keeping their people (their asset) satisfied and happy.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Melwyn, Mangalore/Dubai

    Tue, May 08 2012

    This treat should have been given to Air India Maharajas very long back.

    DisAgree Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: AI Stir: 10 Agitating Pilots Sacked, Union De-recognised



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.