Briefing media here on Thursday, Civil Aviation Minister Vyalar Ravi said that Air India was trying to maintain air traffic and fifty percent of the domestic flights are being operated. Earlier in the day, the Minister briefed the Prime Minister and the cabinet over the issue.
Official sources said that the national carrier would not make any fresh bookings for domestic flights in the next five days to avoid inconvenience to passengers. The Chief Labour Commissioner held discussions with the management and the union but nothing came out from the meetings. However Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has said that conciliation proceedings are going on.
“We have a contingency plan in place to minimize inconvenience to passengers,” Director Vipin Sharma told reporters in New Delhi. The airline has stopped fresh bookings on domestic and short-haul overseas routes until May 3, he said.
Earlier the Air India Management has de-recognised the Indian Commercial Pilot’s Association, ICPA and its offices in various cities were sealed. Flyers at several airports bore the brunt of the strike with some complaining that they were not informed about the status of their flights and some coming to know about the flight cancellations only after reaching airports.
Delhi High Court has also asked the agitating pilots to call off their strike in larger public interest. But the striking pilots say they would continue their stir until their demands are met. They are demanding pay parity and the removal of top management of Air India and a CBI probe into its alleged mismanagement.