Air India gears up to counter pilots’ strike
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Air India gears up to counter pilots’ strike
The national carrier Air India has prepared a contingency plan to counter a strike threat by the 800 member-strong Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) to ensure that the impact of the strike on operations is minimal.
Top sources in Air India say that the contingency plan includes operating wide-body planes in the domestic and short-haul international routes, taking around 15 planes on wet lease — which comes with crew — and requesting Indian Air Force (IAF) for pilots on a short-term basis.
“We have a contingency plan in place. The commercial department has been asked to keep all approvals ready to take 15 planes on wet lease as soon as the pilots go on strike. Plus, we will also operating 13 long-haul aircraft that are not being used due to one reason or the other. Five of our planes will come from VIP fleet, We have two spare Airbus 330s and six Boeing 777s that are not being used currently because of their being fuel guzzlers,” said a top source in Air India.
He further said that the plan will ensure that the impact of the strike is negligible and that there would be no impact on passengers.
“Things are looking good for Air India in all aspects, including revenues and any strike now would badly impact the revival of the airline. To bridge the shortage of pilots, we will put around 250 executive pilots for short haul fleet on duty and are also mulling an idea to hire pilots from IAF. These pilots can fly our planes after a day or two of training,” said the source.
Meanwhile, ICPA is likely to take a call on going on strike in a meeting on Thursday. The union is demanding payment of salaries and flying allowances till date.
“We have not got our allowances for the last six months and salaries are just 50 per cent of our salary. This cannot go on like this, when we are making enough money and all our planes going full,” said a pilot from the ICPA.
Air India gears up to counter pilots’ strike - Indian Express
Top sources in Air India say that the contingency plan includes operating wide-body planes in the domestic and short-haul international routes, taking around 15 planes on wet lease — which comes with crew — and requesting Indian Air Force (IAF) for pilots on a short-term basis.
“We have a contingency plan in place. The commercial department has been asked to keep all approvals ready to take 15 planes on wet lease as soon as the pilots go on strike. Plus, we will also operating 13 long-haul aircraft that are not being used due to one reason or the other. Five of our planes will come from VIP fleet, We have two spare Airbus 330s and six Boeing 777s that are not being used currently because of their being fuel guzzlers,” said a top source in Air India.
He further said that the plan will ensure that the impact of the strike is negligible and that there would be no impact on passengers.
“Things are looking good for Air India in all aspects, including revenues and any strike now would badly impact the revival of the airline. To bridge the shortage of pilots, we will put around 250 executive pilots for short haul fleet on duty and are also mulling an idea to hire pilots from IAF. These pilots can fly our planes after a day or two of training,” said the source.
Meanwhile, ICPA is likely to take a call on going on strike in a meeting on Thursday. The union is demanding payment of salaries and flying allowances till date.
“We have not got our allowances for the last six months and salaries are just 50 per cent of our salary. This cannot go on like this, when we are making enough money and all our planes going full,” said a pilot from the ICPA.
Air India gears up to counter pilots’ strike - Indian Express
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To bridge the shortage of pilots, we will put around 250 executive pilots for short haul fleet on duty and are also mulling an idea to hire pilots from IAF. These pilots can fly our planes after a day or two of training,” said the source.
two or three days of training? Ans what planet is this chap from? I realize the DGCA has a double standard when it comes to Air India. But this?!?
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A strike at this stage would very critical for AI . Especially since they have slowly started to recover .
But one most also observe the fact they have been working on 50% pay for the last 6 months .
If the DGCA wants KF to repay all employee dues before starting operations , dont you think the same should apply to AI as well ?
But one most also observe the fact they have been working on 50% pay for the last 6 months .
If the DGCA wants KF to repay all employee dues before starting operations , dont you think the same should apply to AI as well ?
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We have two spare Airbus 330s and six Boeing 777s that are not being used currently because of their being fuel guzzlers
Anyways, the dude quoted in the news article himself agrees that AI would be `forced' to bring the alleged "fuel guzzlers" online if the pilots chose to strike. So if the pilots do strike, they WILL be able to hurt the airline. So is he trying to encourage the pilots to go on strike?
BTW thank you AI for grounding your wide bodies to allow foreign airlines to take a dominant position in the Indian market. And not just in the international passenger segment!!
Keep using govt. largesse to destabilize the domestic market by underpricing your tickets, weaken the domestic airlines to such an extent that they have no option but to "spread their legs" for the foreign airlines to pick up stakes in them. Then whatever international capacity the Indian airline cos have built will be "taken care of" by their foreign stake holders in the name of "rationalization of routes." And once these foreign carriers will start flying some more international passengers from India, they will realize that they should provide jobs to young Indian pilots instead of the citizens of their own country. Thus, a majority of jobs created through exploitation of the Indian passenger market will stay with Indians. That is what national airlines are for!! To "take care" of the interests of your country's citizens.
