An end to the dispute between pilots and management at Air India has moved closer, with strikers agreeing to hold talks.

Pilots walked out 18 days ago in a dispute over training, with more than 100 subsequently fired.

Dozens of flights have been cancelled as a result of the industrial action.

However, the Indian government – which owns the carrier – had said it may consider reinstating the sacked pilots, prompting the Indian Pilots Guild union to call for a meeting with the aviation minister.

Minister Ajit Singh said there is “no bar on taking back sacked pilots” and it can be done “on a case-by-case basis only if all pilots first return to work”, reported the BBC.

The pilots are protesting against a decision to train pilots from Indian Airlines to fly new planes.

Air India pilots say, as the planes were ordered before the merger, they should be given priority for training.

Indian Airlines merged with Air India in 2007.