As stir continues, Air India draws up contingency plan

New Delhi / Mumbai May 11:

Air India is drawing up a contingency plan that will see it operate seven daily flights to the US through Europe.

The airline currently operates 16 flights a day with large, wide-body aircraft used to fly to the US, Europe, the Far East, and South-East Asia — all sectors affected by the agitation by a section of pilots.

The airline will operate the contingency plan using ecxecutive pilots who, because of their seniority, not only fly but also perform some executive functions on the ground.

Such senior pilots cannot form unions and, therefore, cannot go on an agitation or strike.

The airline also plans to wet lease some aircraft so that it can operate 4-5 more daily international flights, the airline's Commercial Director, Mr Deepak Brara, told newspersons on Friday.

“The contingency plan of operating seven daily flights should kick in late morning Monday or Tuesday. We will look to operate these flights through either London, Paris or Frankfurt. The timing and routing of these operations will be announced soon,” Mr Brara said.

Wet lease

Officials claimed that Air India has sent out about 300 e-mails to wet-lease aircraft and received 12 offers. A wet lease involves acquiring an aircraft with crew.

Air India proposes to lease the aircraft for the “shortest possible time.” Officials admitted that leasing an aircraft for a short period will be a costly proposition.

These steps are being worked out as the agitation by sections of pilots has thrown the airline's normal schedule out of gear. On Friday, the airline cancelled six flights from Delhi to Toronto, Paris, Frankfurt and London. From Mumbai, the flights to Newark and London were cancelled.

The pilots' agitation is causing a revenue loss of Rs 10-12 crore a day, officials indicated.

Kingfisher

Meanwhile, Kingfisher passengers got a reprieve after the pilots called off their strike. On Thursday, the airline's Chairman, Mr Vijay Mallya, wrote to employees threatening action against striking workers. Mr Mallya threatened to “act firmly and decisively,” saying he will not allow a “small group of misguided employees to derail and jeopardise operations”.

A section of KFA pilots from Delhi and Mumbai did not report for work on Thursday to protest the non-payment of January salaries.

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