Air India pilots end strike action

Air India executive pilots have called off their four-day-old strike following Government assurance that their salaries will not be cut and a status quo will prevail on cost cutting measures relating to productivity-linked incentive (PLI).

Capt V K Bhalla, who represents the striking pilots, said they have decided to withdraw the action following assurances given by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel. He also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for intervening in the matter.

Bhalla told reporters in New Delhi the stoppage was “immediately and absolutely called off” and that they would return to work at once.

“I apologise to the passengers for inconvenience caused due to the agitation,” Bhalla said, “I am appealing to all the agitating pilots to resume duty”.

The airline has cancelled hundreds of flights since Saturday when non-unionised senior pilots called in sick to protest against a slash of between 25 to 50 percent in incentive-based pay for more than 7,000 employees.

The struggling airline has attempted to impose cost cuts after posting a one billion dollar loss in the last financial year.