Air India pilots end 10-day-long strike

Air India pilots have called off their 10-day-old strike after the airline management agreed to reinstate the terminated pilots and revoke the de-recognition of the pilots' union, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA).

Over 800 pilots, owing allegiance to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, including those from the erstwhile Indian Airlines, as also executive pilots will report back to work from 10 pm tonight, Capt A S Bhinder, president of the pilots' association said after the conclusion of 5 hour of talks with civil aviation officials in New Delhi.

While the government has agreed to reinstate sacked and suspended pilots, restore recognition to their union and look into the alleged irregularities at the airline, the issue of pay parity, the main reason for the strike, will be taken up after the Dharmadhikari Committee submits its report by November.

While calling off the strike, the pilots said they have put faith in the government.

One of the main demands of the striking pilots was compensation of 75 'fixed flying hours allowance', which their erstwhile Air India colleagues used to get.

The ICPA is demanding salaries at par with a higher-paid group of pilots in the airline. While ICPA members are paid largely for the hours they fly, others enjoy a fixed salary.