New Delhi:
The Air India executive pilots have called off their five-day-old strike. They will resume work immediately.
Capt V K Bhalla, who was spearheading the stir, announced the end of the strike at a press conference on Wednesday morning and said this was being done in view of an assurance from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that status quo would continue. Patel had given an assurance to the pilots on Tuesday, but also warned of action if they did not resume work.
"The Minister has said there will not be any pay cuts. I thank the Minister for his decision. He has done a great job. The strike was not because of ego, it was due to serious issue," Bhalla said. He said he had "full faith in the Minister."
The pilots also put forth a formula for turning around Air India. Bhalla said: "There will be a 'Turn around Policy' committee to discuss other issues. I have a turn- around policy. The profitability is directly related to fuel factor. We know how to save fuel that will generate profit. Like a golf tournament is being sponsored by Air India. We will advise the top management to stop wasteful expenditure."
Bhalla thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for intervening in the matter and apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
He said the pilots would resume work on Wednesday.
The executive pilots had gone on strike on Friday over a proposed cut in incentive pay. Many passengers were left stranded with the national carrier being forced to cancel both domestic and international flights.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said, "Air India management will soon set up a committee of pilots and Civil Aviation Ministry representatives to work on a turnaround plan and discuss issues."
Capt V K Bhalla, who was spearheading the stir, announced the end of the strike at a press conference on Wednesday morning and said this was being done in view of an assurance from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that status quo would continue. Patel had given an assurance to the pilots on Tuesday, but also warned of action if they did not resume work.
"The Minister has said there will not be any pay cuts. I thank the Minister for his decision. He has done a great job. The strike was not because of ego, it was due to serious issue," Bhalla said. He said he had "full faith in the Minister."
The pilots also put forth a formula for turning around Air India. Bhalla said: "There will be a 'Turn around Policy' committee to discuss other issues. I have a turn- around policy. The profitability is directly related to fuel factor. We know how to save fuel that will generate profit. Like a golf tournament is being sponsored by Air India. We will advise the top management to stop wasteful expenditure."
Bhalla thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for intervening in the matter and apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
He said the pilots would resume work on Wednesday.
The executive pilots had gone on strike on Friday over a proposed cut in incentive pay. Many passengers were left stranded with the national carrier being forced to cancel both domestic and international flights.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said, "Air India management will soon set up a committee of pilots and Civil Aviation Ministry representatives to work on a turnaround plan and discuss issues."