AI: Operations to be normal by Monday

Air India has initiated the process of restoring normal operations in the domestic and short-haul international sectors and expects full normalcy in operations by Monday.

“Air India will be restoring over 50 per cent of all flights in the domestic network on Sunday and expects 100 per cent normalcy by Monday. The number of flights may change, but the number of seats offered would be the same as earlier,” said a release from the airline.

The national carrier’s domestic and short-haul international operations were impacted because of the strike by over 800 pilots of the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), a union of erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots. Indian Airlines and Air India were merged in 2007.

The details of all scheduled flights from Sunday would be available on Air India’s website. The restoration of flights has been worked out in such a manner that metros and Tier-II cities are fully connected effective Sunday itself, said the release from the airline.

On Saturday, the airline began operations of flights from all major metros, as the pilots started to report for duty.

“By Saturday evening, Air India had operated 65 flights from the six major metros as against the scheduled 40 flights under its contingency schedule. These flights also registered high seat factors,” said the release.

Airline officials said they had not been taking bookings due to the strike and this had led to the cancellation of about 90 per cent of its flights. Moreover, 60 aircraft of the airlines were grounded. “If we don't have bookings, it is not wise to fly an empty aircraft. We will now open bookings and start rostering the pilots and other crew members. The process will take at least two days to normalise”, officials said.

The contingency plan which was put in place for the strike, is still in operation, they said.

Some flights were scheduled to be programmed by the afternoon and gradually the situation would improve, airline sources said.

Expressing happiness over the pilots ending their stir, civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi had said, “Their is no ill feeling and there will be no feeling of vengeance”.

Asked about the demands of the pilots, he had said, “Interests of all sections of employees would be taken care of by the Dharmadhikari Committee. ... We have received representations from other sections of employees and asked them to approach the committee”. It would submit its report in about four months, he said.

The three-member Justice Dharmadhikari Committee, set up to review all merger-related human resources issues that Air India employees face, has started work and has already met a cross-section of employees to elicit their views.

The striking pilots had been demanding all sackings, suspensions and transfers effected during the strike period be revoked, ICPA's recognition be restored, the contempt of court petition filed by Air India management be withdrawn, a CBI probe into the alleged corruption and mismanagement be ordered and all other issues be tackled in a time-bound manner.