Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh will meet leaders of 13 Air India unions on today as the stalemate with pilots entered its thirteenth day leading to the cancellation of many domestic and international flights. However, members of the Indian Pilots Guild (causing the trouble) have not been invited to the meeting. A section of the Air India pilots belonging to the IPG have been calling in sick and not reporting for duty in protest at the rescheduling of a training programme for the introduction of the Dreamliner which they say impacts their career progression.
Air India losses mounted to Rs.230 crore on Sunday as the Air India 777 fleet has been partially grounded with eight out of seventeen aircraft going nowhere – Madness. Losses per day stand between Rs.13-15 crore. The airline has deployed A320, A321 and A330 aircraft on international routes during the protests.
Air India – CAA minister gets more involved (at last)
