Resume Duties, Patel Tells Striking AI Pilots

Expressing concerns over the ongoing strike by Air India executive pilots, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Tuesday asked striking pilots to resume duties by Wednesday. He assured the pilots that no cost cutting measures would be brought into the cash strapped airline without considering their views.

“Current situation in Air India due to strike by executive pilots is a matter of concern,” he said.

Assuring the pilots, who are on strike for the last four days, that no cost-cutting measure would be taken without taking their views into consideration, Patel said there is no pay-cut as of now for the executive pilots as the decision will not be implemented without consulting them.

He, however, cautioned that the airline management would be free to take any decision if the pilots refuse to budge from the striking stance.