AI continues operations the long haul routes

Air India continued to operate normally on the long haul routes even as its domestic services were crippled owing to the Pilots' strike that entered 8th day today.

"All its 45 daily flights on the long haul routes to the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea continue to operate normally and as per schedule," Air India said in a statement released here today.

"Air India's subsidiaries, Air India Express operated 72 flights and Alliance Air - 32 flights, also on schedule. Air India has approximately 29000 seats on offer on these services," the statement said.

Air India, which has sacked seven pilots and suspended six others, is suffering an estimated operational loss of Rs 26 crore per day on account of the stir.

The statement claimed that despite a section of pilots striking work and disrupting its flight operations, Air India has scheduled to operate 106 flights on the domestic sectors per day as part of the contingency schedule, for the next few days.

These include operation of flights by Alliance Air, additional flights operated with wide bodied B777 and B747 and Air India Express B737 aircraft, in addition to the regular Airbus flights, as against a normal operation of about 320 flights.

"The curtailed operations schedule till May 6 has been finalised and put on the website."

It said, "Air India continues to take necessary steps to minimise the inconvenience caused due to the strike to its passengers. The number of floor walkers at major airports and call centres have been increased. Air India is also transferring the stranded passengers to flights of other airlines."