New Delhi, June 30 (IBNS): The Air India management is planning to perform walk-in interviews to hire pilots and deal with the ongoing shortage created by the strike called by Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG).

The national carrier planned to conduct the interviews days after it published advertisement for hiring pilots.

 Meanwhile, global pilots’ body International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Association (IFALPA) has urged the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to intervene and end the ongoing problems between striking Air India pilots and the management of the national carrier.

The strike is continuing for more than 50 days.

The IPG, that represents the striking pilots, has reportedly urged Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi to 'intervene' into the ongoing troubles.

A total of 101 pilots belonging to the IPG were sacked by the management of Air India for taking part in the strike which was dubbed illegal.

The IPG earlier this week said it is ready to talk to Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and Air India management to discuss the ongoing trouble and find a solution to it.

However, the Civil Aviation Ministry and Air India management have refused to talk to the pilots until they withdraw the strike.

Singh on June 25 said the strike must be withdrawn 'unconditionally'.

The turbulence in the Air India came amid heavy financial losses to the national carrier.

Cash starved Air India lost Rs 1,492 crore in 2011-12 on international flights as it used large aircraft even amid a dip in ticket sales, a government committee set up to suggest ways of turning around the fortunes of the loss making routes has found.

The airline, that operates 42 international routes using widebody (twin aisle) aircraft, made three-fourth of the entire loss on just 13 routes, the top seven of which are said to be the flag carrier’s most prestigious flights to North America and Europe.

The findings, part of a preliminary report by the government panel, are now being sent to the airline to see how it could minimize losses on the routes and its entire network either by changing flight timings, fares or aircraft, media reports said.