No action on demands till AI pilots return to work: Ajit Singh

Singh, however, gave an assurance that their grievances would be resolved as the per the recommendations of Dharmadhikari Committee, but only after they withdrew their strike.

"First, the employees (pilots) will have to withdraw their strike. The (Delhi) High Court has also given them such orders twice. Then, whatever their problems or grievances are, would be resolved as per the recommendations of Dharmadhikari Committee.

"Also, their other demands would be considered. But, first they will have to withdraw their strike. It is illegal. They have not given us any notice. So, until they take this step, nothing is going to happen," Singh told reporters here.

They should understand that "their future depends on the future of Air India," he said.

Maintaining that a "new business plan" for Air India was on the anvil, the Minister said the ailing national carrier would hire new pilots "if necessary".

Asked about dismissed pilots, he merely said, "They are dismissed pilots". So far, 101 pilots have been sacked for their strike that entered the 26th day today.

Air India management was preparing a "new business plan, especially for its international flights, which would be finalised by the next week," he said.

"They (Air India management) are preparing a new business plan, which route was not profitable, on which route fuel cost was not being recovered and ways on how these routes could be made profitable," he said, adding that the airline would "come up with the new plan."

This business plan would enable Air India to stem its daily losses due to the pilots' strike from Rs 10-15 crore to Rs 5 crore per day.

He said Air India was operating 75 per cent of its international flights, that is 38 out of 45 and the losses due to the strike have been checked to an extent on international routes. "The less you fly, the less you lose," he quipped.