Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said the Air India strike was illegal since no notice was given by the pilots and added that it was becoming difficult to justify the bailout package of Rs 30,000 crore of tax-payers' money to the national carrier in such a situation.
The tough action was taken against some striking pilots after a high-level meeting at the civil aviation ministry on Tuesday. Mr Ajit Singh was quoted as telling a TV channel late on Tuesday, “If they (pilots) want to shut down Air India, they can do it very easily. But if we completely shut down Air India, there will be other repercussions. Of course, that vacuum can be filled, but it will take time and, meanwhile, the passengers will pay.”
However, the pilots on strike seem to have hardened their stand. A prominent representative of the IPG pilots, who was among those sacked, told this newspaper the sackings and derecognition would not dent the pilots’ resolve to press for their demand. “How can we have talks with the management if this is the action they are going to take,” he said, adding that the pilots had been called for a discussion by the chief labour commissioner.
In the city, two international Air India flights bound for Chicago and Jeddah were canceled due to strike. With the cancellation of the flights originating from Hyderabad (AI 965 to Jeddah and Chicago-bound AI 127), 220 passengers were stranded. Some of them were being put up at the Marriott Hotel. AI says the affected passengers will be given a full refund or accommodated on other flights bound to those destinations. About 160 passengers booked for the Jeddah flight and 60 for the Chicago flight had been informed at least three hours in advance, indicated officials.