Alliance Air received a major jolt on Monday, April 10 with almost 80% of its pilots reporting off-sick for work. Although the carrier did not officially reveal the number, a report by The Times of India (TOI) quotes a source as saying that around 100 pilots reported being sick, amounting to nearly 80% of the pilot strength.
The airline has to cancel almost 60% of its departures on Monday, sources claim.
“The unforeseen disruption in logistic chain is directly impacting timely availability of spares restricting the airline to fly aircraft due to safety reasons, combined with a section of dissatisfied pilots who en masse reported sick without giving any prior intimation … resulted in cancellation of flight operations on 24 routes,” the airlines said in a statement.
Going ahead, the airline also apologized to the passengers and offered full refund or accommodation on alternate flights.
Apparently, the cockpit crew is not happy with the airline for non-payment of their dues as per the agreement. A mass-leave was a form of protest for the management to look into the matter.
Prior to this, Alliance Air pilots had gone on strike in September 2022 protesting that salary cuts taken during the COVID-19 pandemic had not been reversed. Back then the pilots had accepted the 60% pay-cut option.
Since then, the salaries have been restored but there are some issues with the pilots’ demand and management.
Alliance Air is currently the only state-run airline in India, focusing primarily on regional routes. Three months post Air India’s privatisation, Alliance Air completed the process of becoming an independent airline. The government is now in-process to sell off Alliance Air soon.