Air India hits back, sacks six pilots
27 Apr 2011
New Delhi: A furious Air India management, seeing its domestic operations hit because of a wildcat strike action by pilots of a particular union, has hit back terminating services of six pilots who are members of the Indian Commercial Pilot Association (ICPA). The services of two more pilots have been suspended.
Among those whose services have been terminated are the union president, Captain Ashim Bhinder and general secretary, Captain Rishabh Kapoor.
The AI management has already declared the strike illegal, de-recognised the ICPA and sealed its offices in Delhi and Mumbai.
The strike, which was called Tuesday midnight, continued Wednesday with as many as 36 flights in Delhi and 10 in Mumbai getting cancelled -- overall, 12 per cent of Air India flights have been cancelled.
Over 600 regular pilots and 200 management pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines section of the merged Air India entity struck work from Tuesday midnight leading to flight cancellations or delays.
AI management has also decided to rope in 150 management pilots - executive pilots - to operate flights, an airline official said.
.webp)
