Mumbai, June
18:
With no end in
sight for the Air India pilots’ strike, which is on for more than 40 days now,
the management of the national carrier is in the process of drawing up a new
business plan for its future. This includes the delivery of 27 Boeing 787
Dreamliner aircraft over the next two years.
Addressing a
press conference, the Minister of Aviation Minister, Mr Ajit Singh, on Monday
insisted that the strike by the pilots was illegal.
He reiterated
that the striking pilots can come back only if they agree to call off their
agitation unconditionally.
“The striking
pilots can be taken back only on a case-to-case basis. We are open for talks,
but it doesn’t seem like the pilots are willing for it,” said Mr Ajit Singh
adding “the reasons for the strike have been addressed in the Justice
Dharmadhikari Report, which they chose not to accept.”
While saying
that there was no decision on hiring expat pilots, Mr Singh said, “We have to
do whatever the DGCA mandates. If we need commanders or co-pilots, we have to
get them.”
The national
carrier, Air India has been suffering losses ever since the pilots went on
strike. The AI management and the Civil Aviation Minister had taken a tough
stand against the striking pilots. The strike which entered its 45 {+t} {+h}
day has forced the airline to curtail its international operations. Around 400
pilots of erstwhile Air India owing allegiance to the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG)
went on a strike to protest AI management’s decision to allow the erstwhile
Indian Airlines pilots to get trained on the Boeing Dreamliners.
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